Paxton's Promise (16 page)

Once my gym bag was packed, I loaded up the Hummer and started on my way to the apartment. I had no clue who was going to pick me up, or where we were going, but I assumed I would be blindfolded. When I pulled up in the parking lot, I was about ten minutes early, and there was a car already waiting for me. It was a black truck with all black windows. I parked right beside it and looked over. The passenger side window rolled down and I looked in; it was the redhead who clocked Cliff over the head with the gun yesterday.

Groaning, I rolled down my window. “Let me guess, I have to get in the car with you?”

Smirking, he shrugged his shoulders. “You don’t have to, but I would suggest you do. I don’t like to see the boss pissed off and I don’t think you would either.”

Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly and grabbed my bag. When I got into the truck I was expecting to see it full of other people, but it was just me and him. “Should I be insulted?” I looked around at the empty seats.

Red chuckled and held his hand out for my bag. I passed it to him for inspection. “You’re just a woman,” he explained. “I’ve seen you fight, but I’m pretty sure I can manhandle you into submission. Besides, you know what’s at stake.”

“And that’s the only thing saving you right now,” I mumbled angrily.

He tossed the bag in the back and passed me a blindfold. “Put this on.”

I did as he said and sat back in the seat. “What’s going to happen when we get there?”

“Scar’s going to go over everything with you and then we’re going to put you in the cell so our bidders can take a look at you. If you do as he says, the night should be over pretty quickly and you can go back home.”

“What if it doesn’t?” I asked. “What happens to me if I don’t win the fight?” Scar never went into detail on what would happen if I lost. He only told me what I was going to be doing. There was a reason he wouldn’t tell me beforehand. I was just hoping Red would tell me.

“I suggest you do whatever it takes to win, but I’m going to let Scar be the one to give you details on what happens if you lose.”

Leaning my head against the seat, I took slow deep breaths and cleared my mind. I needed to concentrate on the task at hand. It was hard to do at the current moment. Red kept quiet the rest of the way which suited me just fine, and when the truck started to slow I knew we were there.

“Keep the blindfold on until I take it off,” he commanded. He got out of the truck and a few seconds later, my door opened and he grabbed my arm, helping me out. His hold was a little too tight, most likely because he thought I would run away. There was traffic noise around, but it was muted by the walls surrounding us. Feeling the stuffiness of the air and the light draft on my skin, I’d guess we were inside a vacant building, probably an industrial warehouse. However, there was a scent in the air that I could definitely place; we were still by the coast.

Voices spoke around me, but I didn’t concentrate on them. I hated being blindfolded and I hated it when Paxton made me wear one last time. It made me feel vulnerable and weak, leaving everyone else the advantage. Another few steps and Red guided me into a smaller room, shutting the door behind us and releasing the blindfold. I had to blink a few times to get used to the light, but when my vision cleared, Scar was sitting behind a desk with a smirk on his face.

“Welcome, Miss Reynolds,” he greeted. Red pointed to the plush leather seat and I reluctantly sat, glaring at them both. “Do you have any questions for me?”

“What ignorant jackass am I fighting, and can I cut off his dick?” I’d tried my best not to think about my opponent because Scar happily informed me yesterday that I wouldn’t be fighting women, but men. Disgusting, vile men who want to manhandle women.

Scar bellowed so loud it hurt my ears. “You’re one feisty little fighter. I like it. But no, you can’t cut off their dicks, unless you can rip them off with your bare hands. There are going to be no weapons allowed in the ring. Remember, I need you to be scared. Let them push you around a bit. Make them think they have the upper hand. At the first sign of blood, it’s over. They know this.”

He slid a picture my way and tapped it with his finger. “This is who you’ll be fighting tonight. He’s thirty-eight years old and an obnoxious bastard. He owns a car dealership and thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”

I looked at the picture and snorted in disgust. He was overweight with a beer gut the size of a watermelon. The guy could crush me if he got me down on the mat. “He looks disgusting,” I spat, sliding the picture back. “Let me guess, he
thinks
he’s God’s gift to women, but can’t get any and wants to take it out on some helpless female.”

“Basically,” Scar agreed. “He’s slow as fuck, so your speed will help you out. All I ask is to make your struggle believable. One hit to that fucker’s nose and you’ll win. The people just want to see a helpless woman fight. They don’t need to know who you really are.”

“You’re sick, you know that? How much are you getting off of this?”

His smile faded. “That’s none of your business, little girl.”

About that time, the door burst open and none other than Camden Jameson strolled in. His blond hair was a little longer than usual, and in messy spikes. From his side profile I could see the jagged scar going from his forehead down to his cheek. “Okay, so what exactly are you planning tonight? This douchebag out there says he’s getting in the ring with a fucking woman. What retarded bitch would want to fight that jackass?” When his gaze caught mine, his eyes went wide. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

“Striker, so nice of you to barge in,” Scar muttered. “I brought in Gabriella to fight said jackass. She owes me.”

“And you couldn’t find another hard headed idiot to do the job? You do realize who her contacts are, don’t you? If anyone gets wind of her being here, they’ll come after you and everyone else here.”

Scar sat back in his chair and clasped his hands under his chin. “I’m well aware of that, but she knows what’s at stake. If she talks, then Reaper pays the price.”

Camden scoffed and turned to me. “Since when do you care about Paxton?”

“Since they started fucking,” Scar finished.

Rolling my eyes, I clenched my teeth to keep from saying something unintelligent. They could say whatever they wanted.

“Great,” Camden snarled. “This is going to be one hell of a clusterfuck.”

“Yeah, I’d say so, considering Rage wants her. He’s none too pleased about this new development with Reaper.”

“What does he have to do with this?” Camden narrowed his eyes.

This time, I spoke up. “I’d like to know the same thing. You never told me what happens to me if I lose a fight.”

“Why, you go to Rage,” Scar informed the room. “It was his idea to bring you in, so I let him make the rules.”

“Hell no,” Camden shouted, stepping forward. “You can’t let her go to that psycho. I wouldn’t send a whore his way, much less a woman of worth.”

For Camden to come to my aid, meant my situation was beyond bad. Now I was completely and utterly terrified. Jumping to my feet, I felt sick to my stomach, but even more so, I was furious. “I didn’t agree to be passed on to some lunatic, like a skank-ass whore. This is my life we’re talking about. I agreed to help you recoup your money. I don’t owe you anything else.”

“I’m doing you a
favor
, Miss Reynolds,” Scar retorted. “Rage wants you, but he knows the deal. In my house, he has to play by the rules. He’s agreed to the terms. At least this way, you can escape from him. If you win, he lets you go. I can’t promise he’ll leave you alone once you’re free, but for now you will be.” He then turned his cold, heartless eyes to Camden. “And if you want to fight him for her, that’s your deal; but if he doesn’t agree to the fight, the rules still stand. She will go to him if she loses.”

Clenching his jaw, Camden turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him. For once in my life, I wanted him to come back and tell me it would be okay. That had always been Ryley’s job, but it looked like his brother was my only hope. I had no one else to turn to.

“What is he so upset about?” I demanded. “What’s so bad about Rage, other than his name and the fact he’s a psycho stalker?”

“I hope you never find out. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I thought you would lose.”

“Great, thanks for the vote of confidence,” I muttered.

Scar smirked and then nodded at Red. “Take her to the room.” Then to me, he said, “And while you’re in there, try to make it look believable.”

Red grabbed my arm and pulled me out the door. I had hoped Camden would be just outside, but he wasn’t. I guess he wasn’t going to help me after all.

THE ROOM THEY put me in was different from the ones they had in Las Vegas. This time I could see and hear everyone who came past to make their bids. None of them could see my face though, as I was cowered in the corner with my head down. Little did they know I wasn’t weak, or that I was seething inside. I hated them all. Their excitement over watching a man beat a woman was disgusting and depraved.

Over time, their murmurs faded and then disappeared. It wasn’t long after that when Red opened the door.

“It’s time to go,” he said.

My thoughts strayed to Paxton. I hated not being there to watch him race, but if I didn’t fight, he wouldn’t be able to have any more of them. By the soulless look in Scar’s eyes, he contained very little humanity. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’d killed at least a dozen men, maybe more. I knew he wouldn’t have an issue going after Paxton. Getting to my feet, I kept my head down and trudged over to the door.

“Remember, I need you to be reluctant when I force you into the ring.”

“Act like a scared little girl. Give the disgusting pigs what they want. Got it,” I snapped. He stopped me by the door and I could hear the shouts of excitement on the other side. “What you people do is revolting. I’d like to see you get up in the ring with me.”

“Is that a challenge?” he asked, his lip tilting up devilishly.

“Take it for what it’s worth. I just know someone needs to teach you all a lesson.” There was no way I could win against someone like him, but it sure would feel good to get one hit in. Stretching my arms overhead, I rolled my shoulders and snapped my neck to each side. I was ready to go. “Let’s get this over with so I can go home.”

“As you wish,” he chuckled.

It was show time.

He grabbed both of my arms and I kicked and yelped as he threw the door open, dragging me inside. I’d left my hair down so it could cover the furiousness in my gaze. If looks could kill, everyone in the room would be dead. Through my hair I could see a row of women sitting in the ‘victory’ section by the ring. They were the women men had gambled with. What woman in her right mind would want to go to that fat, perverted bastard in the ring?

Red pushed me into the cage, making me fall to the mat.
Here we go.
Brushing the hair out of my face, I looked up in time to see the fat bastard heading my way, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. He grabbed a handful of my hair and lifted me to my feet, pulling me into him. It hurt like a bitch and I screamed when I could feel it tearing out of my scalp.

“You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you? It’s a shame I can’t take you home with me.” His breath smelled like stale coffee and eggs.

“Thank God for small favors,” I hissed low. I wanted to vomit in his face, but he jerked me around by the hair, throwing me down on the mat. Scar was sitting by the ring, surrounded by other men, including Camden and another guy wearing a dark hood hung low over his face. It made me wonder if it was Rage under there.

All this fat fucker had to do was make me bleed and it would all be over. I was surprised my head wasn’t bleeding, but thankfully, my hands came back clean. Before I could get to my feet, he grabbed my ankles and slid me to him, collapsing on my body. The breath whooshed out of my lungs and I gasped for air.

“Let’s see here. How am I going to make you bleed?” His hard cock pressed into my thigh and in that moment, things were seriously getting fucked up, fast. There were plenty of ways he could make me bleed and I wasn’t about to let him try any of them.