Candy Boys

by Raven, Jo

  Whoa. Guess I was out for more than just a few seconds. I’m sitting on one of the long benches under the lockers.

  The doctor sits down next to me, a middle-aged man in a dark suit. He checks my eyes with a flashlight, listens to my heart, takes my pulse, and pronounces me okay.

  “Can’t rule out the possibility of a small concussion,” he says before he gets up. “You should seek medical attention if you pass out again, or have strong headaches and nausea. In any case, I do think a few days’ rest would do you good.”

  Man, I think so, too. I feel weary to my bones.

  But Pax is here. I reach for her and she climbs on the bench beside me, carefully slips an arm around my back.

  “Hey you.” She smiles at me, and it’s watery but bright. “You did it.”

  “Told you.” All I want is to curl up in bed with her, safe in my arms, and sleep for days.

  “And you won the fight.” She laughs, then presses her lips together.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing’s the matter. You won. It’s crazy.”

  “You didn’t think I could do it.”

  “No.” She lifts my hand, still taped and bloodied, and kisses it. “You didn’t think you could do it.”

  “Pax bet on you,” Ellen says, sitting on my other side. Pale strands have come out of her hairdo and hang around her face. She’s smiling. “She’s the one who found me. The reason we’re here. And the reason you’ll be free.”

  “Free of what?”

  “Of the agency. Of everything that ties you down to a life you don’t want.” She smiles. “You see, almost everyone bet on the Crusher. But Pax and I, we bet on you.”

  “Why didn’t you bet on Crusher? Your son?” I shake my head, then think better about it when the pounding headache intensifies. “Why did you give me your scarf? Why did you want me to win?”

  “Because, my dear boy.” She lifts her hand, pets my hair. “Yours would be the only real victory. And I’m quite fond of you, as well.”

  “Thank you,” I tell her and lean in to kiss her wrinkled cheek. “For everything.”

  “Now you make me blush.” She beams at me and waves a hand. “Come on. Let’s go collect your money and get you two home. James is waiting outside with the car.”

  “It’s a limo,” Pax whispers dramatically as she helps me dress in my loose jogging pants and my jacket, then pulls me up from the bench. “And the driver’s name is James. Can you believe that?”

  I’d believe anything right now.

  Pax helps me limp out of the locker room and through the corridors running through the administrative offices of the club. Ellen precedes us. She talks to people like she knows them. Scratch that, she does know them. Clay Baran’s mother. Sergei Baran’s lover.

  Jesus Christ.

  Soon she has people running back and forth to do her bidding, and with Pax’s help, I make my slow way to the back exit. Can’t remember this building being so big. It’s taking forever, and my legs are shaking.

  Shit, I survived the fight against the Crusher. I fucking won.

  Unbelievable.

  Finally we’re stepping outside, the cold biting into any exposed inch of flesh, making my stomach contract and my ribs flare with pain.

  Awesome.

  A limo is idling there, just like Pax said, and a driver in a dark two-piece suit is holding the door open.

  Well, fuck me.

  I manage to bend over enough to slide inside, and lean back against the seat with the smell of leather and plastic, closing my eyes.

  Pax sits beside me, taking my hand in hers, and yeah, this is the closest to heaven I think I’ve ever been.

  Then Ellen slips into the passenger seat and James behind the wheel, and we’re off. Where to?

  Who the hell cares?

  “Here.” Ellen twists around and thrusts a fat envelope to me. “Yours.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Your money.” She waits until I take the swollen envelope, then turns away again. “Won fair and square.”

  “That’s your money. You bet on me.” I swallow thickly. “When no-one else would. You and Pax.”

  “We bet on your behalf. That’s what family is for. Take it and stop talking. You need to rest.”

  I gape at the back of her seat, and Pax laughs. It’s a clear, happy sound, and I turn to her, passing her the envelope.

  “It’s yours, Riot,” she says, pushing it back.

  “Then take care of it for me, okay?” God, I’m K.O. “Can’t think right now.”

  “Sure.” She gives me a soft smile that eases the pain that seems to radiate from every inch of my body. “Rest. You need to be well for the Christmas party.”

  What party? I want to ask but I lean back instead and let the car’s engine lull me into sleep.

  It’s done. If I have Pax by my side, then I can weather anything, even something I’ve never had before, like a goddamn Christmas party.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Paxtyn

  Epilogue

  Ellen hits her crystal glass with her spoon and clears her throat. “We’re here to…Where’s Riot?”

  Oops.

  “Feeding Batman?” I say.

  “I thought the pets were fed already.”

  “Batman is...particular. Doesn’t trust anyone but Riot.”

  Her face softens. “I see.” Then she scowls and points a finger. “You, young man. We wait until everyone is seated before we start eating.”

  Gale freezes with a chicken drumstick in one hand and his mouth open. He closes it with a snap. “Seriously?”

  I swallow laughter.

  Corey rolls his eyes. Beside him is another buddy of Riot’s from the agency—Zeke. He is eyeing his glass of wine as if it’s radioactive.

  “Why did I agree to do this?” Ellen asks nobody in particular, slumping back in her chair.

  “To make Riot happy?” I venture.

  She invited the people that count in Riot’s life for Christmas. So here we are, waiting for him.

  The table is set as if for a royal buffet, with trays upon trays of meat and pasta and veggies and sauces. Crystal wine glasses are filled with ruby wine. Candles burn merrily. There’s a scent of burning wood and good food.

  “What’s keeping him?” Ellen finally says. “I’ll go get him.”

  “No, I’ll go.” I put my white linen napkin on the table and get up. “Won’t be a minute.”

  I don’t wait for a reply.

  I find him in the patio, crouched beside Batman, stroking the dog’s head. He looks up when I approach, his eyes lighting up. He’s still bruised and swollen, but he looks a thousand times better than he did after the fight. The pallor of his face had scared me half to death after he’d regained consciousness, but the doctor was right. A day in bed and some warm food, and he was back on his feet.

  “Hey,” he says. “I’m waiting for him to finish so we can go back inside. Can’t leave him outside, he’ll freeze.”

  I nod and crouch down beside him in my fancy red dress and shoes. “He lets you pet him more now.”

  “He trusts me.” Riot takes my hand, pulls it over the dog’s head. “He can learn to trust you, too.”

  Gently I run my fingers on Batman’s velvety fur. His ears twitch and he lifts his head to stare at me.

  “Hi, Batman.” I smile at him, and he stares for a few more seconds before going back to eating.

  Heh. I guess he doesn’t entirely distrust me anymore.

  “We’re ready to start eating. Ellen was going to come looking for you.” I nudge his shoulder. “This isn’t just about Batman. You don’t want to come inside? Gale is about to steal the food and hide under the table to eat.”

  He chuckles. “I can see that happening.” He starts to get up, winces, and I grab his arm to help him. “I just...don’t know, Pax. Don’t know what to think. Everything that happened these past days just seems impossible. Like it never took place. Like it was a strange
dream.”

  “But it’s real,” I tell him. “It is real.”

  It’s been a few days since the fight, and the swelling in his face has receded, leaving behind deep, ugly bruising. He’s paid most of Kyle’s medical debts with the money we won at the fight, and I was with him when he went to the agency and told them he resigned.

  He’s free to start again.

  With me.

  “I know. But it makes no sense.” He’s still quietly ranting, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Why is she doing this? The Crusher’s mom. Fuck. How can I trust her motives? How can you?”

  Good question. I shake my head. “I don’t know. I just do.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she cares for you. I think...I really think that Markus’s death shocked her. Her own son killing another person to get her attention. I think she asked about you, became interested. And the more she got to know you, the more she liked you.” I smile. “You are very likable, you know.”

  He quirks a half-smile at me. “Only when you’re around.”

  Aww…

  “She told me you’re the son she’d have liked to have, if fate cared. Isn’t that enough? Can’t we choose the family we want, that makes us happy?”

  He lifts one brow, dubious. “I guess.”

  “No guessing involved.” I put my arms around him, rest my cheek on his chest. “I choose you.”

  “Thank fuck,” he says with feeling, and I laugh as I lead him inside, Batman following us. “And you haven’t regretted it? Asking for me, instead of someone polished and suave?”

  We stop inside the hall, and I turn to him. “A few weeks back, I used to think my life was ruined. That I lost myself, who I would have become. That I’d have studied something else—design? history?—and dated many boys at college, have had my heart broken a million times. Partied, traveled, sought what I want, if that night at the biker’s club hadn’t happened.” I smile at him. “Now I’m not sure I regret anything. Terrible though that night was, it brought you into my life. How can I ever regret that? How could I ever regret you? I love you and I don’t need to look any further.”

  He swallows hard, his eyes too bright. “You have no fucking idea how much I love you. You’re my whole world, Pax.”

  And he is mine.

  JO SAYS…

  I hope you have enjoyed RIOT! If you would like to know the stories of his friends—Gale and Zeke—let me know! I enjoyed writing this book very much, and I intend to give Gale and Zeke different pets to keep things interesting… *wink*

  WHAT NEXT?

  Well, I am planning a sequel to the Inked Brotherhood series – a happily ever after novel with all the boys and girls of the original series, with an exciting (I hope) ending. A spinoff series may also happen—and let us not forget Soulstain, the tattoo shop guys who visited Damage Control in OCEAN who may get their own stories.

  Also I will be writing ROOK (Sex and Bullets 3) to wrap up that series.

  There will be a MM romance (Jason and Rayne’s story, a Damage control spinoff story).

  I am looking forward to writing Colt’s story (Inked Brotherhood spinoff story – if you read RAFE you may remember Colt who also fought in the underground fight club).

  Riot may be made into a series after all, since many people asked for the stories of his friends Gale and Zeke.

  And… these are my plans for now! What can I say? I love writing stories, and have lots of other spinoffs and series inside my head, fighting to get out.

  Any particular story you would like me to write? Let me know! Also, if you haven’t, join my readers group where we discuss and vote on projects, covers and generally have fun! ▶ http://on.fb.me/1K2LvzO.

  Acknowledgments

  To all my readers, thank you so much for your constant support, help, ideas and encouragement. You make an author’s life complete, you give me courage to keep writing and publishing, and you’re all amazing!

  Huge thanks to Jade West for her encouragement and help, to Tracy Comerford for her support and ideas, to Kerry Fletcher for her amazing feedback on the story, to Leah Joslin for her patience and protectiveness, to Kia Zi Shiru for the great long discussions about stories and publishing, to Lisa Anderson for making me feel special, and to all of you for your friendship.

  Lots of love for my awesome Street team with special thanks to Kerry Fletcher, Emma Johnston, Michelle McGinty, Lainey Da Silva, and Louise Bailey, but also to everyone there who helps me with promotion. Love you, ladies.

  My love and thanks to my readers group and review team who rock my world every day with their helpful feedback, supportive comments, funny posts and general awesomeness.

  Special thanks to the people who wrote to tell me they liked the story, and especially those who got back to me with errors to fix and replies to my endless questions: Christy Hiland, Rykeea Princessa Lowe, Charity Wilson, Hilary Becker, Toya Garin, Carol Lynn Jennings, Christine Indriolo, Emma Johnston, Rhiannon Matthias, Rachael Fick, Michaela Bishop, Rachael Horton, Sarah Barker, Nikki Wilson, Rini KT, Angie Mitchell, Lina Linalove, Diana Dimitrova, Delia Petrano, Raylene Green, Leah Blanks, Jayne Wheatley, Heather Sann, Courtney Jewell, Elodie Main, Kat Boston-Steines, Nico Maeckelberghe and… anyone else I may have forgotten. Thank you all!

  Super special thanks go to Brandy Freeman and Cheryl Jarvis for taking so much time to go through every chapter hunting for discrepancies and errors.

  Like always, any remaining errors are my fault.

  As always, my gratitude to my amazing editor and to my formatter, 5 Times Chaos.

  A big shout-out to my cover artist, RBA Designs | Romantic Book Affairs (http://www.rbadesigns.com/) for the lovely cover.

  If I forgot to mention someone, please forgive me. I am grateful to every single person who has read my books, who has messaged me and supported me on this journey. I am here because of my lovely readers. May you all be well and happy. I am truly blessed to have such amazing friends.

  AUTHOR BIO

  Jo Raven is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, best known for her series Inked Brotherhood and Damage Control. She writes edgy, contemporary New Adult romance with sexy bad boys and strong-willed heroines. She writes about MMA fighters and tattoo artists, dark pasts that bleed into the present, loyalty and raw emotion.

  Find all my books here ▶ http://joraven.com/books

  Be the first to get your hands on my new releases & offers, giveaways, previews, and more by signing up here ▶ http://bit.ly/1CTNTHM

  Meet me online—on Facebook ▶ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoRaven, chat with me on Twitter ▶ @AuthorJoRaven, and join my readers group for sneak previews of my covers and stories ▶ http://on.fb.me/1K2LvzO.

  REVIEWS MATTER…

  If you like my books, please think to leave a review on amazon or any other site. It would mean the world to me, and it helps me get the word about my books out there. Thank you!

  Have you read the Inked Brotherhood series?

  Five boys brought together by fate. Five young men trying to overcome their troubled pasts. Five tattoos marking them as a brotherhood built on tragedy. Will they find understanding and rise above the pain?

  Five girls tied by friendship. Five young women fighting their own demons. Five lives laced with sorrow. Will they be strong enough to save the men they love and make them happy?

  The series comprises five interconnected, stand-alone novels: Asher, Tyler, Zane, Dylan and Rafe.

  GET IT HERE

  After the Inked Brotherhood, comes DAMAGE CONTROL:

  The Damage Control series is set in the same world as Inked Brotherhood. The boys of Damage Control were taken in by Zane Madden and Rafe Vestri and offered apprenticeship and work in the tattoo shop Damage Control.

  The series comprises five interconnected, stand-alone novels: Micah, Jesse, Seth, Shane and Ocean.

  GET IT HERE

  Do you like romantic suspense and bad boy millionaires? How about giving my new series, SEX AND BULLETS,
a try?

  LINKS HERE