Flinging her purse on the dark-brown dresser of her new studio apartment, Luna pinched the bridge of her nose. If she could only get hold of Oliver. She’d tried calling and messaging him all afternoon, but he didn’t answer. And why should he? He needed space. But the retreat was only three days away. She had no idea how he’d react, but she hoped with all her heart that he’d come. If only to help protect Lexi. She hurried over to the closet and peeled out of the hated gray GovCorp suit. Her fingers trembled, and she almost ripped the material before she threw the pants and jacket on her unmade bed. She took the red two-part sweater dress that Oliver liked so much from its hanger and hastily pulled it over her head. Then she slipped into a black pair of over-the-knee socks and her matching black boots. She had an inkling that Oliver might already be at the fight club. It was past eight o’clock, and although he’d told her he never wanted her to come near the club, she had no choice but to go and piss him off a little more than he already was.
Just to make sure, she went upstairs and rang his doorbell, but as she expected, he wasn’t there. Next, she checked Max two doors down, but he wouldn’t answer either. She scrolled through her contacts and swiped his number. After a few beeps, Max answered.
“Max, it’s Luna. I need to know where Oliver is.”
“I don’t think he’ll want to see you right now.”
“Look, you can hate me all you want. But please, this is important. Is Oliver at the fight club?”
Max clucked his tongue. “I honestly don’t know. And for the record, I don’t hate you. But I wouldn’t recommend that you go and seek out Oliver. Seriously, Luna. He’s trying to get you out of his system. With brute force.”
“So, he’s at the fight club?”
After a sigh, Max uttered, “Probably.”
“Thank you.” She ended the call and slipped back inside her studio. After grabbing her coat and purse, she was out the door in a flash.
On the way downstairs, she called the cab company. The club was located in a part of town where she hadn’t felt safe leaving the new SUV in the street.
Twenty minutes later, she told the autonomous cab to stop at the club’s entrance. The run-down building used to be an indoor shooting range for the GV military program before the program had been abolished four years ago.
The cab’s voice feature came over the speakers. “Are you sure you want me to drop you here?”
“Yes.” She held her phone to the cab’s pay screen to pay the fare as she scanned the empty alley. “I’ll be fine.” As soon as she’d climbed out of the back seat and shut the door, the cab sped away into the darkness of the empty alley.
An icy wind blew a discouraging draft across the cobblestone, stirring up frozen leaves, debris, and what little hope Luna still had as she crossed the street. The loud clacking of her own boots’ heels startled her, and she exhaled a long breath when she reached the roofed entrance area. She briefly wondered why there were no bouncers or security guards at the entrance, but this place wasn’t a public club but rather an insider hangout. A beeping sound went off, and the metal entrance door swung open. As a surly man in maintenance overalls stepped outside, she quickly slipped past him before her courage decided to flee. A few tentative steps inside, she stopped to scan the rectangular room and take in the atmosphere.
Maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea to come here. The place was dripping with a mix of testosterone, adrenaline, and a gleeful lust for plain old violence judging from the way the crowd cheered around the fight cage on the far side of the club. Even the fast beats of the music sounded aggressive. Trying to avoid a bunch of plastered patrons, she snaked her way along the wall until she reached the bar that was nestled in a corner opposite the cage. Leaning against the shiny, dark counter, she eyed the spectators. While the fighters in the cage were definitely GVs, the people outside were a mixed crowd. Roughly 50 percent naturals, she guessed.
Behind the bar, a young black and turquoise-haired woman in a red catsuit sauntered in her direction. As she moved closer, Luna gasped. The woman sported a huge shiner.
Luna’s expression must have given away her shock. The corners of the woman’s mouth lifted, and she waved a hand. “Bah, that’s nothing.” She placed a small cup with mixed nuts on the counter in front of Luna. “Don’t worry. It’s not my first black eye. I don’t heal as fast as the guys in the cage, but I’ll live.”
Luna frowned. “So, do you fight too?” She’d never heard of naturals fighting here.
She huffed. “Oh no, I owe that to some asshole patron who wouldn’t take no for an answer.” She spread her hand toward the liquor shelf. “What can I do for you?”
Luna swallowed and threw a quick glance at the men gathered in front of the bar. “I’m looking for Oliver Shaw.”
The bartender blinked. “I thought you look familiar. You’re his wife, Luna. Right?” She pointed at her own chest. “I’m Maddie.”
“Um, yes. Hi. How come you know me?”
Her finger moved up to her shiner. “Oliver decked the ass who did that.” She half turned and nodded toward a girl carrying a tablet with drinks toward the tables along the other side of the room. “He’s our hero. Our lives have gotten much easier since he’s around.”
She cocked her head and smiled at Luna. “You’re fortunate to have someone like him.” Maddie’s words made Luna’s heart bleed even more. She didn’t need another woman telling her Oliver was a good man who hadn’t deserved her betrayal.
Maddie went on chattering. “He showed us your wedding photos and talks about you all the time.” She paused to lift a bottle from the shelf behind her. “Well, before he shifts into battle mode. And speaking of the devil. He’s up next.”
Her revelation prompted Luna to turn around to watch the cage, just to regret it instantly.
One of the two fighters in the cage got brutally punched in the face, and blood sprayed across the dirty floor as the man dropped down and lay seemingly unconscious.
Luna flinched, but the audience started roaring. Wanting more. More violence, more blood.
Maddie leaned across the shiny black counter. “You okay? Is this your first time here?”
Luna nodded. She hadn’t expected that much brutality.
Maddie snagged a handful of peanuts from the bowl and popped them in her mouth. “I know it looks bad, but they heal so fast.” She smiled good-naturedly as she pushed the bowl encouragingly in front of Luna.
Luna held up a hand. Snacks were the last thing she was interested in right now. She couldn’t quite get herself to return Maddie’s careless smile.
Of course, she’d known where Oliver’s injuries came from, but seeing it live was a whole different thing. “So, it’s only GVs fighting each other here?”
“Yep. Once in a while, a natural with a death wish walks in looking for a fight, but the club’s owner always turns them down.” She leaned closer. “He doesn’t need a headline stating a GV killed a natural in the cage. We already have enough problems here thanks to the Front.”
A man at the far end of the bar signaled for Maddie’s attention.
Her curls bopped as she nodded back at him. “I’ll be right back, Luna.” Then she winked and chin nodded at someone behind Luna, exclaiming, “Look who’s here,” before she headed toward the other end of the bar.
Luna turned around, and her heart stuttered. MMA gloves and mouth guard in one hand, Oliver was stalking right toward her, the look of a seriously pissed-off warrior on his face. “Why are you here?”
“I couldn’t reach you on the phone. There’s something vitally important we have to talk about.”
The line between his eyebrows deepened. “Is this about the divorce?”
“No, it’s about GovCorp.”
Oliver’s eyes darkened, and he rubbed his brow. “Talk to Derek about whatever’s going on with you and them. I don’t want to hear it.”
His eyes flew to Maddie as she approached with a big grin on her face.
Then, leaning cl
oser, he refocused on Luna. “I don’t want to see you.”
Maddie’s steps slowed, and her smile faltered, a big question mark edged over her features as her eyes jumped from Oliver to Luna.
Before Luna could insist she needed to speak to Oliver, the speakers crackled with an announcement. “Next up, Oliver Shaw versus Will Collins. Calling the fighters to the cage. Oliver Shaw. Will Collins.”
Oliver jerked his head in the direction of the exit. “Leave.”
Turning, he shoved his mouth guard between his lips and stalked toward the cage without another glance at Luna.
Maddie’s voice behind the counter sounded wary. “Trouble in paradise?”
Luna tore her gaze from Oliver’s back and straightened before she turned toward Maddie. “Nicely put, yes. But it’s a long story.” One that Luna didn’t want to discuss with Maddie. Or anybody but Oliver.
Maddie pulled up her eyebrows. “Got it.” She gave Luna a quick once-over. “Are you staying to watch?”
“Yes. I need to talk to him after the fight.”
Maddie clanked a shot glass on the counter, held up a bottle of scotch, and smiled conspiratorially as her eyes flicked to Oliver who warmed up in front of the cage. “I’ll put it on his tab.”
Even though she didn’t feel like smiling at all, the corners of Luna’s mouth tugged upward. “Thanks. But I don’t drink.”
Maddie shrugged nonchalantly. “You might rethink that once the fight starts.”
A group of drunk girls started to shove each other and make a ruckus at the other end of the bar.
“Gah, what the hell?” Maddie put the bottle on its shelf again. “Got to take care of this. Holler, if you need me, okay?” Then she waved at a big guy sitting on one of the tables in front of the cage.
He jumped up and crossed the floor, the quarreling girls in his sights.
Okay, so the club did have some sort of security. Just not the obvious kind.
A blaring sound went off, and the gate of the fight cage opened. Slipping their hands into their gloves, Oliver and his opponent entered the cage, and the door clicked shut behind them. There was no referee inside with them, and she couldn’t really tell if there was one outside somewhere. Her hands started sweating, and she rubbed them on her coat. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to see what would happen next. Still, she craned her neck to see Oliver as a crowd gathered closer around the cage.
Oliver’s opponent didn’t waste any time and went in throwing punches left and right. But Oliver blocked them all with ease, his deliberately slow movements expressing boredom.
“What’s a pretty thing like you doing in here?” The fiftyish stocky guy next to her wiggled his eyebrows. But not in a funny way. Rather disgustingly. “Are you looking for some action?”
She took a step to the right to create some distance. “No, I just want to watch my husband fight.”
The guy laughed. “Come on. You can’t be married to one of them.” His gaze slid to the cage, but unfortunately, only for one moment before he sidled closer again. “What about a different kind of action?” He moved his pelvis suggestively.
Gross. “Excuse me.” Without another look at the guy, she moved away from the bar and leaned against the cold, gray wall, watching Oliver and his opponent circling each other in the cage.
But obviously, the leech didn’t get it and tagged along. He placed one hand against the wall and grabbed her hand with the other one, caging her in.
What the heck was he thinking? Anger rose inside her as she tried to pull her hand away.
But his grip tightened, and he wouldn’t let go. “Come on, honey. The two of us could have way more fun in my car.”
His breath reeked of alcohol and unbrushed teeth, making her turn her head in disgust.
Her eyes flew to the cage and met Oliver’s. His face was a mask of fury as he blocked his opponent’s attacks while keeping his gaze trained on her and her attacker. His pecs twitched, and then he punched his opponent in the face hard enough that blood and spittle sprayed across the cage’s floor. Oliver swiveled and ended the fight with a roundhouse kick to his opponent’s chin. She could practically sense the crunch of bone even though she couldn’t hear it over the cheering crowd. The man dropped to the floor, and the spectators bawled and hooted, distracting her own attacker.
“Last chance. Get your hands off me!” She wrenched her hand back while stomping down hard on the guy’s foot with her boot’s heel, but he only grinned at her.
Frowning, she lowered her gaze. Damn. He wore steel-toe safety boots.
When she lifted her gaze again, Oliver kicked open the cage door.
Jaw flexing, he jumped down from the platform and barreled through the roaring crowd. Something in his eyes made her heart pump double duty and her throat tighten. Something primal.
Luna’s attacker raised his head and slowly turned around, as if the sleazebag finally sensed the danger closing in on him. Seeing Oliver gunning straight for him, he froze, his hands dropping to his side. “Oh, shit.”
Luna couldn’t resist hissing. “I told you so.”
She could have sworn every single pair of eyes in the room was trained on Oliver at this moment.
“Step away from her.” A vein formed on Oliver’s forehead as he yelled at her attacker.
The man held out his hands in front of his body. “I didn't know she's yours.” He scrambled a few steps backward before he turned and flat out ran.
The vein in Oliver’s forehead ticked and his nostrils flared.
Luna knew he was getting ready to chase after the man. And if he hurt the natural, Oliver would get in serious trouble.
She stepped in front of him and put her hands on his solar plexus. “Oliver, don’t.”
His abs contracted, and his body literally vibrated beneath her touch. His hard eyes refocused from the fleeing man to her hand on his midriff.
Knowing he was still pumped full of adrenaline, she realized she should be concerned. But the fierce possessiveness in his every move gave her a rush of excitement as he took her hand from his abs and dragged her into a nook behind the bar.
“Why the hell are you still here?” Leaning down he loomed over her, and the muscles in his jaw clenched.
He might hate her now, but she wasn’t afraid of him. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not one of your opponents.”
He huffed, and his eyes narrowed, zooming in on her.
He was so close, his familiar scent of sandalwood and man engulfed her senses. She brought her mouth closer to his ear. “What? Do you want to hurt me?”
For a second, his eyes traveled to her lips before they shot up to connect with hers again. “What I want doesn’t matter.” His tone was gruff, but his expression relaxed a little. “You need to leave. Now.”
Yes, she should. Her gut told her he needed distance, not forced proximity. And definitely not having to act as if everything was peachy between them. But she needed his help and time was running out. “GovCorp thinks it’s over between us. They had you followed, saw you going to the lawyers. Lewis wants you to come to the company retreat.” She hesitated for a moment, but it was best to get this particularly devastating morsel out fast. “To Barbados.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Vulnerability ghosted across his features.
Something about his expression pierced her heart. Were memories of their fake wedding assaulting him? Or rather fake memories of a wedding that never took place?
Strain edged around his mouth. “Lewis is bluffing. They might have seen me enter the lawyer’s offices, but that doesn’t prove anything. And the lawyer’s security systems are state of the art.”
Luna kept her voice soft. “I tried to convince him it was about the sale of the house, but he wouldn’t hear it.”
Cursing, Oliver punched the wall hard enough that dust flew and flakes of peeling paint fell to the floor.
Luna flinched at the sudden movement, taking a step back. Something poked at her side, and she half turned to
see a door handle. In the dim shadows, she hadn’t noticed the doorway.
Oliver inched closer. “You knew what you were getting into. You knew who and what I am. You knew how I tick. Did you honestly expect to screw me over like this, and I'd just say, ‘Oh, baby, no problem. I’ll come with you to party with my tormentors, the people who tortured me, screwed with my genes, and wiped my memories’?” The volume of his voice rose with every word.
He grabbed her upper arm and held her against the wall. As his fingers dug into her flesh, she couldn’t prevent her face from twisting as she tried to step away from him.
He blinked, and something like regret crossed his features as he dropped his hand from her arm. “Damn it. I hate how you still fucking rule my body, my mind, and my shitty life.” His voice trembled with a mix of fury and sadness as he leaned his forehead against the wall.
Keeping her voice steady and low, she searched his eyes. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I love you. I never faked my feelings for you.” She wet her lips. “I know I screwed up. You can't possibly hate me as much as I hate myself for what I did to you. But I won't let you treat me like this. You did the exact same thing to me. You were the one who came on to me. You tried to turn me. To work for the Committee. And you succeeded. So, I know exactly how it feels to get played. But I listened to you when you came clean. Even if it had been the exact same situation, I would have given you another chance.”
He pushed off the wall. “Really? You’re not seriously trying to compare this?” His shoulders visibly tensed, and the veins in his neck started protruding. “I won’t repeat it. You. Need. To. Leave. I'm not safe to be around tonight.”
As her eyes adjusted to the dimness, she could see new battle bruises on his face, making him look even fiercer. She knew the expression on his face. He was barely able to contain his fury. Seeing him struggling with his emotions only made her loathe her decision not to tell him the truth all over again. Her voice sounded almost small. “What was I supposed to do? Let Lexi die? If you think I only faked everything, then why didn't I try harder and seduce you right away? Why did I try to push you away instead? So many times.”
Adrenaline Heat Page 5