“Maybe we should get you a tranquilizer then,” Sophie suggests with a laugh.
“That’s not a bad idea,” I tell her, somewhat serious because I’m anxious as hell and will be until I get a call from Tyler.
Sophie walks over to me and grabs my hand, pulling me up and forcing me to stand. “Come on, let’s go get a drink and try to have some fun while we’re here.”
There’s no getting out of it because Sophie isn’t going to sit here and let me sulk. The fight could last ten minutes or it could last an hour; I have no idea. I feel as if I’m always counting down to something when it comes to Liam. First, it was my birthday, then the divorce, and now this, his ultimate fate.
As we head to the elevator, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and smile when I see it’s from Liam.
Liam: I love you, baby. I love you so much. I can’t wait to come home and make love to you.
Maddie: I love you and miss you so much. Kick some ass and be careful, Hulk. I want you in one piece, alive.
Liam: I will, Mads. I promise.
We ride down to the bottom floor and go straight to the bar. One shot, that’s all I’ll need to calm my nerves. I send up a little prayer for Liam to be okay tonight, and that this will truly end all affairs with the O’Learys. Liam’s my other half, and I’ll never be the same if something bad happens to him. We’ve been through so much over the years, and now that we’re together, I’m not sure I could survive without him.
I don’t even want to think about it.
Chapter Twenty
LIAM
The flight to Vegas was uneventful. We were delayed for three hours due to mechanical issues, and as I sat there and waited, all I could think about was the look on Maddie’s face when I left. By the time we landed, I’d asked myself a hundred times if I’d actually lost my mind because it feels like I have. I’m on edge and ready to get this all over with but have to wait nearly twenty-four hours before I can meet up with JJ. That’s when I’ll know where the fight is taking place. It’s hush-hush so the cops aren’t tipped off before the fight starts. The mob doesn’t want any trace that an underground fight ring exists. Tyler has told me how much money is on the line, and if I win, JJ will walk away a very rich man. He’ll make ten times as much as I lost, and we’ll finally be even.
After we Uber to Tyler’s house and grab his truck, we check into a hotel on the outskirts of town. Tyler takes a few phone calls outside of the room trying to figure out who my opponent is because it’s still a mystery. There are details about the guy, but no name, which has him concerned, given the circumstances of this fight. At this point, I don’t think it matters who it is, just that I beat the fuck out of him. I should be fighting to kill, but I’d rather not take someone’s life if I can win by just knocking him out. After I get in the ring though, and realize it’s my head or his, I’m sure my opinion will change. I’m already wound up so fucking tight that I can barely sit still.
Tyler’s speaking with someone in the hallway, but I can’t really make out what he’s saying. The call ends, and he walks inside, looking me up and down as I stare blankly at the TV. “You need to carb up, hydrate, then get some rest.”
“Any info?” I ask curiously.
“Not yet. I’m working on it, though. I just have a feeling that something more is going on.” Tyler sits on the edge of the other bed.
“We’re talking about the O’Learys. Of course there’s more going on. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.” I shrug, and Tyler gets up and walks toward the door. “C’mon, I’m starving.”
Tyler drives us to a pizzeria and forces me to eat half of an extra-large thin crust. We’re mostly silent as we sit together, neither of us knowing what to say. I load up on pizza and bread. Then on the way to the hotel, we stop, and he forces me to eat plenty of fruit and drink tons of water.
“Hydration is key so you don’t get fatigued or muscle cramps,” he explains as we haul everything up to our room. Although I’m full as fuck, I do what he says, because winning tomorrow is the only option I’m considering. If Tyler told me to balance on my head for an hour, then do forty jumping jacks in order to be a better fighter, I’d do it.
“I have to meet with JJ around five,” I remind Tyler before I go into the bathroom to take a shower.
“I know,” he tells me, and it seems he has something more to say but doesn’t.
The next day, I can’t get Maddie off my mind. I miss her so much and am worried about how she’s taking this. I imagine she’s a mess, and it drives me crazy we’re in this situation. I eat, then rest most of the morning. But all I want to do is call and talk to her, but Tyler has told me it’s best to wait so I don’t get distracted. But not talking to her is distracting. Emotions are high and being in a different place mentally isn’t good for the ring. Considering I had a dream about her last night when I told her goodbye forever, I’ve been knocked off my axis. However, I’m trying to allow it to fuel me to get through this.
Shortly before five o’clock, Tyler and I head over to JJ’s penthouse, where he’s dressed in a tuxedo and wearing a shit-eating grin. We’re checked for weapons before we’re allowed to fully enter the room. His cocky attitude is still intact, and I’m two seconds from clocking him right between the eyes when he looks at me. The two guys standing in the corner of the room packing guns stop me, though.
“You ready to make me a rich fucking man?” JJ asks.
Tyler stands to the side with his arms crossed, observing it all, but the disdain he has for JJ is written all over his face.
“Just give me the goddamn address,” I demand, my patience waning.
JJ crosses the room and goes to a wet bar, then pours himself a drink. My heart rate increases, and I can feel my pulse throbbing in my neck. With every passing second, I’m becoming more feral, angrier, and more agitated. After he sips his scotch on the rocks, he grabs a slip of paper and a pen from the counter and scribbles. He walks toward me and folds it in half before handing it over.
“Losing isn’t an option if you don’t wanna die,” he warns, and I snatch it from his grasp and walk toward the door. Tyler follows me.
“I fucking hate that guy,” I seethe as we step onto the elevator and go to the bottom floor.
“Me too. I’m sure there’s a club we can join. He’ll eventually cross the wrong person,” Tyler suggests with a shrug. “Guys like that usually get what’s coming to them.”
“We can only hope.” We step out and go to the truck. Once inside, Tyler programs in the address. Tyler starts the engine, and instead of putting it in drive, he turns and looks at me.
“If you’re gonna back out, now is the time.”
I tilt my head at Tyler. “They’ll never let me be free if I do that.” I’ll always be on the run, and that’s no life for Maddie.”
“You’re right, but just giving you the option,” he says, shrugging.