“No,” he replies with a secret smile. “Enjoy yourself Saturday. I’ve placed a bet on Legend. I’m confident he won’t let me down. I could use a vacation with my winnings.”
“I’m confident he won’t either,” I tell him. “Gabriel is the most determined person I’ve ever met in my entire life. I believe in him.”
“Then he’s a very lucky man, indeed.” Gunter leans in to unzip the dress and pats me on the shoulder. “Good-bye, my dear.”
Forty-Five
Legend
Metal grates against metal as a crew assembles the cage in the middle of the club on Thursday. I finished my morning training and came in to check on the setup before I go back for my afternoon session. We’ve slowed the pace to let my body rest, but continuing to go through all the moves keeps me sharp.
Q comes down the stairs and stops beside me. His suit and tie are a definite contrast to my sweats and T-shirt. And yet, this is my club. Something about that makes me smile.
“You get any more info from the mob on Moses?” he asks. “Why didn’t they just take him out?”
I look at Q. “The last words from Creighton Karas were that you don’t question the mob. I gotta believe they have it handled, or it’ll fuck with my head thinking Scarlett’s not safe. Karas said he’s adding guys to our security team too.”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m asking. I got word from our security firm earlier. They said they’re being invaded, and Karas’s guys are going to be calling the shots.”
My head pulls back. “No shit?”
“I’m not sure if it makes me feel better or worse, Gabe. Why the extra measures if they’re sure they’ve got Moses contained?”
I glare at him. “Are you trying to fuck with my head?”
“No. I’m trying to decide if Scarlett should even come tonight.”
“What if that’s what Moses wants?” I ask, my voice hushed as I remind myself that Moses is even more calculating and devious than he used to be. “What if he knows I’m going to win the fight, and he thinks we’ll keep her locked up somewhere else? What if the safest place for her is here, especially with Karas’s security team running things?”
Q’s gaze drops to the floor for a few beats before he looks at me again. “Hell, you might be right. I don’t know the guy, but if he’s that Machiavellian, maybe it is.” He jams a hand in his hair. “I’ll be glad when this fucking week is over. If I get gray hair from this, I’m blaming you, asshole, and you’re paying for my dye jobs for life.”
“Good to see it’s your vanity calling the shots, brother.”
“Shut the fuck up, Gabe.” He leans over and gives me a rough hug. “Just don’t fuck this up. We’re all counting on you.”
With the weight of the world already on my shoulders, Q’s statement lands heavy. “I know. And I’ve got this.”
Thankfully, I’m not lying.
Forty-Six
Scarlett
When I wake up Saturday morning, I already know Gabriel is gone. He told me what time he had to be at the gym to go over the game plan with Jeb one more time. I won’t see him until later, when he comes home from checking last-minute preparations at the club to shower. Then we’ll ride to the club together.
I told him about the suit from Gunter, and his whole face lit up. “No shit?”
I giggled. “You must’ve made quite the impression when you went to be measured. He likes you. He told me you’ve got his approval.”
The moment his face softened and quiet happiness settled over it, I snapped a mental image entitled Gabriel Feeling Loved. It’s an expression I’m determined to see even more often.
Today is just the beginning. What we have is going to grow and change, and become old and wise like Gunter. All we have to do is get through tonight.
When I sit up in bed, I spot a box and a note on my nightstand.
“What is that?” I say to the empty room.
I pick up the note. In Gabriel’s bold handwriting, it reads:
Ladybug,
We’re sleeping in tomorrow. I love you.
—G
My heart melts as my smile stretches wide across my cheeks.
I lift the package off the nightstand and carefully open the shiny black paper to find a white box. I open it and pull out something round, wrapped in tissue paper. When I peel back the layers, I release an audible sigh.
“Oh my God.”
It’s a ladybug salt shaker. I reach into the box and unwrap the matching ladybug for pepper. Goddammit, that’s it. I’m going to marry this man.
But, first, I’m going to watch him win this fight, and hopefully see him realize exactly how incredible he is too.
Gabriel Legend, you are a special man. I won’t stop until you see yourself like I do.
Forty-Seven
Legend
I step out of the shower and scrub the towel across my skin. We didn’t do much training at all today, given that I need to save my energy for tonight. But Jeb had me go through his fight-day protocol, which included an hour of film pointing out Bodhi’s weaknesses for the last time, and then visualization exercises.
I’m prepared. More prepared than I’ve been for anything in my life. Once I step inside that cage, anything can happen, but I’m ready. Beyond fucking ready.
When I got home, I checked on Scarlett, who was with Kelsey in the master bath, working on her makeup. I gave her a kiss on her lips, which were still bare, and then headed to shower in the guest room.
I wrap the towel around my waist, brace my palms on the counter, and meet my gaze in the mirror.
“Tonight, we win. Tomorrow, we take out Moses.” I make the promise and then head for the guest room, where my suit from Gunter hangs.
I was surprised the old man made it, but what he said to Scarlett gave me something I didn’t know I needed. Approval from her people. It feels pretty fucking great that they don’t think I’m reaching above my station. Apparently, I’ve been the only one hung up on that this whole time. And now, I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.
I slip on the silk-lined black suit pants and button up the tailored black shirt. The black vest is next. Black on black on black. The old man’s taste is impeccable, not that I should be surprised. With the jacket still on its hanger, I head out into the living room and hang it on a hook near the door that leads into the rest of the building.
I check my phone to see if I’ve missed a notification while I was showering, and there’s only one. It brings a smile to my face, and I reply immediately.
Flynn: Kick some ass tonight, bro. I’m proud of you, win or lose.
Legend: Consider it done, lil sis.
Kelsey’s voice carries from the bathroom and out through the bedroom so that I can hear some of what she’s saying.
“I swear to God, love is the best highlighter there is. I don’t think you’ve ever looked this radiant, Scar. All my clients need a Gabriel Legend, if they want to glow like you.”