by Missy Blue
"It'll be fine," Bailey was saying. "You understand these types of tournaments?"
I shook my head. "Not really. Asher tried explaining it to me once but it sort of went over my head." Bailey went over everything, but it wasn’t anything that Asher hadn’t already said to me. My eyes had started to glaze over but I shook my head. "Right. Got it. Lots of fights."
Bailey grinned at me. "Lots of fights, Asher wins all. That's all you need to worry about."
Tess glanced at her watch. "We should probably start heading over. We don't know which card Asher's going to be put in and we don't want to miss anything."
I nodded and reached for my purse, intending to pay for my mostly untouched lunch. Bailey stopped me with an outstretched hand and a wry look, shaking his head. He dropped some cash on the table for all of our meals and rose.
"Thank you," I said, sincerely. Asher’s family always made me feel welcome. "I owe you a beer or something." I smiled at him.
"Make it two," he replied. "Let's go, ladies."
I noticed that Bailey drew almost as much attention as Asher had the day before. Bailey used to be a big MMA star a few years back before an injury forced him to retire early. Occasionally people would call out to him or stop him for an autograph, which he graciously always acquiesced. I also noticed that the groupies eyed him flirtatiously. I sighed as I took them in; even at three in the afternoon, they were in tight, short cocktail dresses and five-inch heels.
It had taken me awhile to decide what to wear, but I’d finally decided on fuchsia denim skinny jeans and a cropped white camisole. I'd been torn between flats and heels, and finally opted for silver snake-print peep-toe heels that would give me a little lift. At five-foot-four, I often easily got lost in the crowd.
"Hey, gorgeous. If you want a good time just ask," a redhead slut called to Bailey as we passed. Tess just shook her head and laughed, but I stopped in my tracks.
"Really?" I said, glaring down to where the redhead was seated with a couple of her skanky friends. "Do you not see him here with his wife? Really?"
"And that makes you, what?" the redhead asked, smirking. "The baby-sitter?"
"That's the bitch that was with our Asher Prince yesterday," another girl spoke up, giving me a pointed head-to-toe. "Glad you put the ratty T-shirt and dirty sneaks away, honey."
"Hope you don't mind sharing," the third girl at the table spoke up. She was the prettiest of the three, and she smiled condescendingly at me. "'Cos I'm about to snatch that boy right from under you and fuck him like he needs."
"Jewel, let's go," Tess interrupted loudly, noticing the way my eyes darkened with anger and my face began to flush. "You hoes have a nice day,” Tess said with a straight face. “Oh, and, try not to spread gonorrhea all over the arena, if you could, please."
"Fuck you, bitch!" the third girl called after me as Tess dragged me away.
"Ugh!" I growled as we caught up with Bailey. "How do you stand that?"
Tess shrugged. "It was really hard at first. But you just get used to it. Honestly. Don’t let them get a rise out of you, Jewel."
"Thanks for the third-grade lesson," I said. "Somehow I doubt that works with them. I think knocking their teeth down their throats would be more effective."
Tess smiled and gave me a little squeeze. "Jealous, much?" I scoffed but didn't otherwise reply. “Jewel. Listen. Asher’s had a rough past and now that he's sort of 'famous' there's no shortage of attention. As long as I've known him, he's never dated anyone, not a single woman, because, I guess, he had trust issues. And I didn’t blame him. Those three sluts are a plenty, there’s a long line of them just waiting to—”
“Is this supposed to make me feel better?” I said dryly, sighing.
“—take advantage of him. His nice face and body, and dollar signs and fame. What I’m trying to say is, hun, is that Asher’s never brought anyone to our home before, and I’ve never seen him quite the way he is with you. It’s plain to everyone that he’s only got eyes for you.”
My blood began to stop boiling at her words, but I was still annoyed that I hadn't let those whores know precisely what I thought of them. But Tess was right. I was Asher's girlfriend. Something those groupie whores would never be. I smiled at the thought, and felt considerably calmer. “Thank you,” I said softly to Tess.
"Ah, the groupies," Bailey said, sighing with mock-wistfulness until Tess punched him lightly in the bicep. "Those were the days." He laughed and ducked her next swing, then caught her arm and hauled her into his side, planting a loud kiss on her. "Just kidding, baby girl. You know you're the apple of my eye."
"Apple of your eye?" Tess repeated wryly, unable to hide a smile. "No wonder you never get the girls, saying shit like that."
I couldn't help laughing at them, trailing slightly behind as Bailey insisted on walking with both arms wrapped around Tess's waist.
As we headed outside, a stretch Hummer limousine greeted us. "What the hell is that?" Tess asked.
"Hey, you guys!" a loud voice called, and Blaise Colton leaned out of the opening door. "C'mon. Let's go see our boy get it in!"
I eyed the extravagant vehicle before catching a look of annoyance on Bailey's face. I knew if Asher were here, he'd throw his hands up and insist on walking rather than ride in the over-the-top luxury transportation. Bailey seemed to be of a similar mindset.
"Hotel shuttle would have sufficed just fine," Bailey called back, a slight edge in his voice.
Blaise shrugged cheerfully. "This is how the big-time do it, bro. Get in!"
Bailey sighed but pulled Tess after him, and I trudged after them. I let Blaise help me inside, ignoring the little smirk he gave me as he looked down my cleavage.
"Sleep well?" Blaise asked me pointedly.
"Not well enough," I shot back.
He smiled and shrugged. "I don't make the rules," he said mildly. “Sure our boy will give you what you need soon, sweetheart.” The way he delivered his words made my skin crawl. I could feel my heart race a little then, and forced myself to breathe deeply. I needed to get away from Blaise as soon as possible. I didn’t like him. I didn’t trust him.
"So how's he doing?" Bailey asked Blaise.
"Good. You know how he is. The strong silent type. More like moody. Anyway. He's doing fine."
The ride to the Niagara Center was short and I thought the limo would stop in front, at the main entrance where floods of people were gathering, but it drove around to the back of the center. I started to relax a little; glad we seemed to be able to bypass any real crowds.
My relief was short-lived and dismay filled me when I saw there was a horde of people at the back entrance. "Press entrance," Blaise informed us. "Well, press and groupie entrance. Security can't keep 'em away technically; they can only keep 'em back. Cock-suckers know this is the place to be since all the fighters come back this way."
"Why are we allowed to come through here?" Tess asked.
Blaise shrugged. "It's also the friends-and-family priority entrance," he replied. "You can get to the dressing rooms and the entrances to the floor for ring-side seating much easier this way." The limo pulled to a stop and Blaise reached for the door. He looked at me. "Brace yourself, baby."
Bailey and Tess stepped out first. Then Blaise nodded for me to exit next, but when I did, I felt his hand on my buttock. I shot him a glare of anger, but before I could react further, I was overwhelmed with shouts for our attention.
Bailey was instantly recognized and security stepped forward to help our little group pass the small but seething crowd. Then somehow, in a matter of seconds, I found myself separated from the group. Three reporters converged on me and shoved tape recorders and microphones in my face.
"Who are you?" one of them shouted. "Are you with Blaise Colton?"
"What?" I said. "No! He manages my boyf—"
"Asher Prince," another reporter interrupted. "He manages Asher Prince. Are you Asher's guest?"
"Something like that," I responded, trying t
o step away from them and rejoin my group. But I couldn't see them anymore. Only several tall security guards.
"Are you his girlfriend?" the third reporter demanded. "Asher ‘The Tornado’ Prince has a girlfriend? What about Bethany Done? Asher bored already?"
"Jewel!" I faintly heard Bailey call. I ducked away from the reporters and tried to push through the crowd.
"Where the hell do you think you're going, bitch?" an angry female voice said. I glanced over my shoulder and saw another group of women. "If we can't get in, you damn sure can't!"
"You that desperate for the dick?" another woman asked me, cackling.
I glared at her and turned back around. I locked gazes with a guard. "Please," I begged, "I'm supposed to be in there."
"That's what they all say," he replied. "Nice try, though. You might want to come at me with a tight dress next time."
"Keep moving, Mr. Colton!" I heard. I tried to peek around the security guard.
"Blaise!" I shouted. Blaise glanced over at me, smirked, and then turned away. I watched in horror as he called out to a leggy blonde and trotted after her. "Blaise!" I screamed again.
"Oh, now she actin' like she know folks," another groupie said, and several voices laughed at me.
I felt a confusing mixture of rage and anxiety start to build in me. Now I was feeling hands pushing at my back, shoving me against the security guard, who was turning to glare down at me. Did they not see me get out of the limo with everyone? Why wouldn't they let me through?
"I'm with them!" I insisted, pointing vaguely in the direction Blaise, Bailey and Tess had gone. "They're probably still there, waiting for me. Can you please check?"
"We had security move them along," the guard replied. "Sorry, miss. We can't allow you back there."
"I drove here with them!" I said angrily.
"I didn't see you before," he said skeptically.
"I'm here with Asher Prince," I said, hating having to resort to using his name. "He's fighting in the tournament."
"Yeah, I know who Prince is," the guard said, rolling his eyes. "All these cock-chasers out here are for him. I never heard nothin' about him havin' a guest."
"I am," I pleaded. "I came with his brother and his brother's wife. And his manager! Just let me through, please."
"How you know him?" the guard said, folding his arms and looking at me in disbelief. "You can't be no girlfriend. I never got your name."
"Just ask Blaise," I said, growing more agitated as the swell of jeering voices behind me rose. "He was supposed to put me on some list or something!"
"Well, Blaise Colton is long gone now," the guard said. "We took Bailey Prince and his wife that way. Colton went the other way." He gestured into the arena over his shoulder.
I clapped a hand to my forehead, trying to calm myself before I had a panic attack. How the hell had things gone to shit in the matter of seconds? Someone had to have seen me get out of the limo. Why was no one speaking up?
Suddenly, I lost my footing and almost fell over when a foot sharply kicked my heel out from under me. I tottered violently until the guard grabbed my arm.
"Get your ass back there where you belong, you dumb bitch!" one of the women shouted at me.
I lurched forward as I was suddenly pelted with an extremely hard object. A frozen water bottle was hurled violently into my back at short range before crashing to the hard ground. I was shocked at both the gesture and the immediate pain it caused against my tender flesh. I felt like I'd just been hit with a baseball. I whirled around to see who had thrown it, intent on slapping them to the ground, when the guard grabbed my arm and pulled me away.
"Hey, knock that shit off!" the guard bellowed at the women. "Try that shit again, I'll have your loose pussies locked up! Then ain't none of y'all gettin' cock tonight!"
My chest was heaving with rage when the guard turned back to me. "Listen, I don't believe your story for one second, but are you all right?"
"Just call Blaise Colton!" I shouted, jerking my arm free. "Call Asher. I'm telling you, I'm with them! This is bullshit!"
"I've got Colton on his cell now," another security guard with an earpiece said with a sigh. "Hold on." He listened for a moment. "He's coming down now with Prince."
Relief washed through me, but it was short-lived as the women nearby just screamed at me more. I felt shaky and angry; I couldn't believe I was dealing with this. If this was any indication as to how the rest of the tournament was going to be, it wasn't off to a good start.
"I don't know who this bitch thinks she is," one of the women called. "Bringing her ass to the front of the line like she’s running shit."
"She ain't shit," another woman said with a laugh.
"Bring your ass back over here, honey," a third voice called out. "I got somethin' way worse than a bottle of water for you."
"Shut the fuck up!" the security guard bellowed at them. "Every last one o' you. You're fuckin' lucky I can't call the cops over here to arrest your asses. Someone say something else. I will mace all of you, right now, just for fucking pissing me off!"
"Jewel!"
I heard his voice and turned quickly. Asher stood just behind the barricade, dressed in his tournament shorts and a ribbed tank top. He looked furious. He looked like he wanted to tear apart everyone in sight.
I hurried toward him, ignoring the rise in noise as both the groupies and the reporters immediately started shouting to him, demanding to know who I was and if I was his girlfriend. Every sound was threatening to crack my nerves, but I focused on his angry face and rushed toward him.
"Prince, this yours?" a guard asked, catching me by the shoulder just before I reached Asher. The guard pressed me back.
"Yeah. Now get your fucking hand off her before I start the tournament here with you," Asher snarled, reaching out to take me by the elbow.
The guard quickly complied, lifting his hand immediately, and stepped back. Stepped way back. Before I could figure out how to navigate the hip-high barricade in my tight jeans and heels, I suddenly felt my breath whoosh out of my lungs in surprise, and vertigo assaulted me. Asher had grabbed me around the waist and bodily picked me up, swinging me over the barricade like I weighed nothing more than a feather. My feet had hardly touched the ground before he immediately swept me away down a long concrete corridor.
Blaise trailed behind us, Asher's rage palpable to everyone. Asher was silent, but the way his hand locked around my waist, and his tightly clenched jaw, it let me knew he was beyond infuriated. I winced a little as his hand pressed down unknowingly on my developing bruise from the water bottle. He looked down at me, seeing it, and his eyes narrowed. I swallowed, feeling a little intimidated.
He turned me around a corner sharply and I almost tripped again, but he swept me along, holding onto me firmly until he came to a long hallway lined with doors. He stopped in front of one with a sheet of paper taped to it that bore his name and turned the handle. He pushed the door open and I saw that it was a small dressing room. He ushered me inside and stepped in after me. I had enough time to register that Tess and Bailey were in the room, all looking agitated and worried. Their faces relaxed when they saw me, but I turned to look at Asher, who was anything but relaxed.
His brow was creased with fury and his jaw was still tightly clenched as he turned around, holding the door. Blaise tried to step in after him, but Asher smacked the door in Blaise’s face before blocking the door.
"C'mon, man," Blaise said in a wheedling tone. "It was an accident."
Asher opened his mouth and snapped it shut, glaring. He finally spoke. "You had one fucking job," he gritted out, his voice deadly low. "One. You were supposed to look out for my family."
"Mistake, man," Blaise went on. "We lost her in the crowd, I thought she was with Bailey and Tess, I didn't—"
"You didn't give a fuck!" Asher roared. "You left her to deal with those fucking assholes so you could go chase some ass for tonight. You know what could’ve happened?"
"Asher,
look, I'm sorry," Blaise said. "I—we're cool, right?"
"She gets the best of the best, right?" Asher asked, his voice quiet and dangerous.
"Asher—"
"You're fired," Asher bit off. "Get the fuck out of here." He slammed the door in Blaise's face and resumed pacing.
"Jewel, are you okay?" Tess asked. "We tried to come back for you but the guards kept moving us this way. We just got here and told Asher immediately that you were left behind."
"Blaise wasn't even looking for you!" Asher thundered.
“Asher, calm down, man,” Bailey said.
"When I got out to the entrance he was just coming back from the other way, talking to some chick," Asher snarled, ignoring his brother. He shook his head and glanced at me. "You good?" His breaths were coming out heavy.
"I-I'm okay," I said, not wanting to say otherwise. My nerves were rattled and my blood pressure was up. My back ached with the onset of a bad bruise from having the water bottle thrown right at me at close range. But none of that would help Asher calm down and focus on the fight, so I forced a smile for him. He didn't return it, and instead, his eyes narrowed.
"Asher, you sure that was smart?" Bailey asked. "He's a good manager."
"Fuck Blaise," Asher snapped. "I asked him to do one thing—one thing! Which was—take care of my family. If he can't do that then he doesn't have my best interests at heart, so fuck him."
Bailey nodded, studying his brother before he glanced at me. "You okay, Jewel?"
"Yep," I said brightly. "Just fine. All's well that ends well." Asher was openly glowering at me now, so I shifted uncomfortably.
"All right. See, Asher? She’s good. She’s fine. Why don't you two go take your seats,” Bailey said, addressing Tess and me. “Get a drink or something and I'll work on our prize fighter here—"
"I want to talk to Jewel alone," Asher said evenly. "You guys wait outside."
Once we were alone, Asher shut the door behind them and turned back to me. I foolishly felt like I was in trouble for something.
"What happened?" he asked.