Fighting Dirty: A Stepbrother Romance (When The Gloves Come Off Book 2) (2 page)

Liam

The Russian could be leading me into a trap, but I have no choice but to follow him. We slip through the alleyway and into an abandoned building next door. Faintly, I can hear the wail of police sirens.

“This way,” the Russian says.

Lou and I follow him through the dark. I don’t like this at all. I keep expecting the worst.

I can hear a door squeaking open. Light floods into the room, blinding me. Pain shoots through my head; my temples throb. I wonder if I have a concussion. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Inside,” the Russian orders.

I don’t like the way he’s taken charge of the situation. I’m not about to let things play out the way he wants them to. I stand defiantly before him.

“You want to go another round, pretty boy?”

I smirk and stand my ground. “You think you can take another round? You went down pretty hard.”

“I’m not the one who should be worried. You’re bleeding like a stuck pig.”

I would never admit he was right… but he was right. The room was tilting around me like I was in a funhouse. I was barely able to stay on my feet.

“Enough!” a voice shouts from inside the room.

I take a step inside.

“Dad?”

A million thoughts rush through my head. First among them: what the fuck?

“What are you doing here?” I demand.

“Watch your tone. It’s not my fault you’re in this mess,” he says.

The Russian leans against the door and crosses his arms in front of his chest. A shit-eating grin spreads across his face. I’m sure nothing would amuse him more than listening to me argue with my dad. I’m not going to give him the pleasure. I slam the door shut in his face.

“What are you doing here?” I ask again.

I strain to keep my voice level, but my words carry a sharp edge. Dad frowns, but doesn’t press the issue.

“I came here to save you.”

“Save me? Are you out of your mind?”

“
Am I out of my mind
?” He laughs incredulously and throws his hands in the air. “You decided to join a fight club that’s run by a psychopath. And you think I’m the crazy one?”

How can I explain the rush I get when I’m in the ring? He’ll never understand. He
doesn’t want
to understand. It’s pointless. I roll my eyes and look away.

“I’m getting you out of here,” he says.

“What do you mean? You can’t.”

“Everyone’s distracted with the police. It’s your chance to escape.”

“Wait a minute. Were you the one who called the cops?”

“I’ve got a few friends in high places. When I found out you were a part of this criminal organization, I called in a favor. Tony’s organization will be broken up by the police. He can’t threaten you anymore.”

“Are you nuts? Tony got away- I saw him. As for the arrests, they’ll be out on bail by morning. It’s not the first time these guys have been arrested and it won’t be the last. You haven’t destroyed Tony’s gang. All you’ve done is piss them off. Once they find out you’re responsible-”

“They won’t.”

“How can you be so sure? That fucking Russian knows. And if he knows it’s only a matter of time before Tony finds out.”

My father waved a hand dismissing my concerns.

“Tony’s a businessman. Money talks, bullshit walks. If it comes down to it, I’ll just pay him off.”

“Un-fucking-believable.”

I run my hands through my hair and pace the room. My father has no idea who he’s dealing with. I have no doubt Tony would happily take his bribe, then slit his throat. You can’t destroy a gang by throwing money at their leader. It’s ridiculous.

“I know what you’re thinking. I couldn’t care less about these fight clubs. What I care about is my son getting beaten within an inch of his life every night for sport. All I want is to get you out of this mess you’ve put yourself in.”

“Not just me.”

“Who else?”

“Riley.”

“Is she the one who put you up to this? Was it her idea? I’m not surprised. If I hadn’t married her mother, she’d be nothing but trailer park trash.”

Without thinking, I push my dad. He lands hard against the wall. To my surprise, he doesn’t look angry, only surprised. I’ve never gotten physical with my dad before. We usually get along. Insulting Riley crosses a line that I didn’t even know existed.

“Fighting was my idea. Riley had nothing to do with it. She wouldn’t even know about it if I hadn’t fucked up. They took her to punish me. We have to get her back.”

My father starts to straighten his clothes and brush off the back of his pants as if the room has contaminated him with filth.

“Riley’s not my concern. My responsibility is to my son.”

I’m trying to resist the urge to punch him when he walks past me and opens the door.

“Ivan,” he says, addressing the Russian like they’re old buddies. “I want you to see that my son gets to the airport.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“You’re obviously not capable of taking care of yourself. Ivan will look after you.”

The Russian smiles. His front tooth is chipped.

“Ivan will take you to the airport,” my father continues.

“Where are we going?”

“Las Vegas. I thought I’d send you on a vacation while this blows over. Your friend Ivan offered to escort you.”

“He’s not my friend and I’m not leaving Riley behind.”

“I’ll deal with Riley.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Ivan will find her. Won’t you Ivan?”

“It would be my pleasure- for the right price of course.”

“Of course.”

“You’re a fool if you trust him,” I say.

“Ivan helped us out tonight. He took a dive for you.”

“What? I thought you said Tony paid you to take a dive?”

“I lied,” Ivan says with a shrug. “I was trying to get you to follow me. I assumed that when you learned your father paid me to let you win, you’d be angry and leave without hearing what he has to say.”

“You’re not wrong about that. I can’t believe you paid him to take a dive. I’ve won my last ten fights on my own. I didn’t need anyone to bribe the other guy to lose.”

“Are you sure about that?” the Russian says with a smirk.

I push him hard. He crashes into the wall with a thud. I want to wipe the smirk off his face, but he makes no move to fight me back. Is it because my father’s in the room? The Russian’s smarter than I realized. He doesn’t want to risk losing the money my father promised. If-
and it’s a big if
- he managed to kick my ass, my father probably wouldn’t pay him the money he was owed. Of course, the Russian could always threaten to tell Tony that it was my father who called the cops, blackmailing my father.

“I saw you fight,” my father says. “You were good. For a moment, I was proud. Then I remembered where I was. No son of mine is going to be involved with gangsters and underground boxing clubs. With my money and connections you could have been anything you wanted and this is what you chose? It’s not too late. Put all this behind you, go back to college and move on. I can get you a job working at my firm. I’ll introduce you to some nice girls from good respectable families.”

Translation: girls who aren’t like Riley.

“I’m done,” I say. “Keep your money. I don’t want to see you again.”

“Son…”

I walk out of the room into the dark. I’m on my own now. I have no idea how I’m going to get Riley back, but I have to. It’s all on me now.

Riley

The woman waits with me in Tony’s office. I want her to leave so I can search the room for a weapon. I’m not letting Tony touch me. If I have to kill him, I will. At least, that’s what I try and tell myself. I’ve never been in a fight before. I’m not sure I have what it takes to stab someone.

“The things people do to survive,” the woman says.

For a second, I think she’s responding directly to my thoughts. Then I see she’s moved over to the window. She’s staring down at the scene in the brothel below.

“When you look at those girls you see whores. That’s not what I see. I see survivors. You’d be wise to take notice. They could teach you a thing or two.”

“You’re wrong. When I look at those women I don’t see whores. I see victims. Most of them were forced into this life through no fault of their own. They’re captives of the lifestyle.”

The woman laughs quietly and regards me over her shoulder.

“You think that’s funny?” I ask. “I’m a
literal
captive here, and I doubt I’m the first.”

“Many of these women come to Tony begging for a chance to work here. Do you have any idea how much money they make?”

“I don’t care about money.”

“Of course you do. Everyone cares about money.”

“Whatever their situation is doesn’t change the fact that I was forced to come here and…”

“And…?”

“Just look at me.”

I uncross my arms from in front of my chest for the first time since putting on the negligee. The woman gives me a bored look.

“So?”

“It’s dehumanizing. I’ve been turned into a sex object and not a very good one,” I mutter.

Why Tony thought I’d make a good addition to his brothel was a mystery to me. I’d caught a glimpse of the girls he employed. They were skinny with tans and huge fake tits. They looked like they were trying to turn themselves into Barbie dolls. I’m a pale, curvy girl who’d spend the rest of her life in yoga pants and sweatshirts if she could.

“What is that?”

A hint of an accent purred at the edge of her words. I couldn’t place it, but it was strangely seductive.

“What?”

“When your tough exterior disappears the little girl emerges. You think you are ugly? Fat? No man would want you?”

“Don’t mock me. My situation is bad enough.”

“Do you think those women down there care about what you think of them?”

I don’t answer.

“You could learn a lesson from them.”

The door swings open and Tony enters. I never thought I’d be grateful to see him, but I’m desperate to get out of this conversation. Then I remember how I’m dressed. Tony gives me an appraising look.

“Better than I thought,” he says.

What does that mean? He expected me to look terrible? Of course. I cross my hands in front of my chest. Maybe the Madame was right. I could learn a thing or two from the girls here. The women who work in the brothel put up with worse than this on a daily basis and they survive. I was going to have to toughen up.

“Leave,” Tony says, dismissing the Madame.

She gives me a look that almost resembles sympathy. For a moment, I almost feel connected to her. Then I remember who she works for. I don’t want to be left alone with Tony, but even if she did stay behind, it wouldn’t matter. Tony sees me as his property now.

I watch as she saunters out of the room like a cat. I wonder how long it took her to master that walk. I roll my eyes.

“You girls playing nice?”

“I’m not here to make friends,” I reply.

“No, you’re not.”

The coolness in his voice is frightening. This is all business as usual for him.

“So, why am I here?”

“Turn around,” he says with a smile. I don’t move. “Are we going to play this game? When I tell you to do something: do it.”

“I’m not playing a game.”

“Good. Now turn around so I can get a look at you.”

I close my eyes, then slowly turn in a circle. I brace myself for criticism or a smartass remark, but it never comes. I open my eyes to find Tony sitting behind his desk.

“What kind of experience do you have?” he asks, as if this is a normal job interview.

“Excuse me?”

“With men- or women. Tell me about your sex life.”

I stare at him blankly. I am not having this conversation with anyone, let alone my kidnapper.

“If you’re okay with fucking your stepbrother you must be in to some kinky shit.”

I turn around and run for the door. I throw the door open and run straight into a bodyguard. Crashing into his chest is like running straight into a brick wall. I stumble back and he frowns down at me. The man grabs my arm and leads me back into the room.

“That’ll do,” Tony says.

The man releases me and leaves.

“You’ve got a nice ass, nice tits. The guys will like you.”

The room feels like it drops by about thirty degrees. I start to tremble and hug myself tight.

“I’m going to be good to you,” Tony continues. “I’m going to pay you well. Eventually, you’ll come to love this job. Now take off your underwear and let’s get started.”