FIGHT(A Bad Boy MMA Romantic Suspense Novel)
Page 15
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I stood on the balcony.
The only question that burned inside me was if Aldo had something to do with it all. So far Endo was the catalyst. And he was the one who had been shot and left in a coma. He had ties to the Red Aces. Ties to Stoney and Rocky. Now he had ties to Skull X because of Winter, Winter’s kid, and the woman who took Winter’s kid.
It was a giant circle that just kept going round and round.
It made no sense either that Aldo wanted Autumn. The family always lived by their beliefs. I had no business getting involved with anything related to the family. I was a fighter. Aldo’s prized fighter at that. I made Aldo money and when he kicked some up higher, I made money for everyone. That was my job.
I stared at my fists.
How fucking badly I just wanted to be in a circle… staring down some guy… watching his feet, his stance, his shoulders. Watching him watch me. Figuring out his strong hand, weak hand, and seeing if he was afraid. Anything that could give me that edge in a fight.
All I needed was one good punch and then I had the fight. Then I’d wait for Aldo to give me the cue. I could knock the guy out. I could last the entire fight. Whatever he needed from me.
I looked over my shoulder and saw Winter in bed, sleeping.
This fight? Damn, this was something entirely new.
My cell started to ring.
It was a blocked number.
“Hello?”
“Tripp. You alone?”
“I’m alone.”
“Here’s Aldo.”
“Tripp,” Aldo’s voice said. “How’s the problem?”
“There is no problem. I know what I need to do.”
“Is she dead yet?”
“No, she’s not. I can’t kill her. She didn’t do anything wrong. I’m a fighter. I’m not a hit man.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” Aldo said.
“You know what she was forced…”
“Get my granddaughter,” Aldo said. “I can’t start a war over this.”
“Aldo, I don’t get…”
“Fuck,” Aldo growled. “Get Autumn.”
I swallowed my pride. “Okay. I’ll figure something out.”
“Good. Oh, and by the way, Tripp, don’t fuck this up. That kid is all I have now.”
“What do you mean?”
There was a pause. Then Aldo said, “Endo’s dead. He died today.”
The call then went dead.
28.
(Winter)
When I woke up, Tripp was on the edge of the bed, fully dressed. He kept the blankets against my body. I felt so well rested. So comfortable and so safe. It was probably the best mood I had woken up in in a long time.
I inched toward Tripp and nuzzled at his neck.
“Hey you,” I whispered, my mind offering the worst of intentions.
“You sleep good?” he asked.
“Great,” I said. “Think we can do the shower thing every night before bed?”
I smiled.
Tripp turned his head.
He wasn’t smiling.
“What?” I asked.
“I have to go,” Tripp said. “Alone.”
“What?”
“Listen to me, darling,” he said. He turned his body and touched my face. “I have to end all this. But I have to do it alone.”
“Why?”
“I’m going after Skull X.”
“Tripp! No.”
“Stop,” he said and stood. “I have to do this. I have to do it alone so there’s no chance you can get hurt. You stay right here. Don’t leave the room, okay? Promise you won’t leave the room.”
“Tripp… I…”
“Promise me!” he bellowed.
“Okay. I promise. I’ll be right here. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“I just have to do this. Once and for all. One more fucking fight.”
I was scared to death. I wasn’t going to lie. Not to myself, not to Tripp. I couldn’t imagine Tripp going to Skull X and coming back alive.
I looked up at him. I moved closer to the edge of the bed.
I dropped the blanket off my chest.
I reached forward and grabbed between his legs.
I needed him. Right now.