“Shit…sorry,” I mutter, pulling away with a concerned look.
“I’m good, baby…just give me a couple of days.” That’s when I notice the knuckles on both his hands are split open. I want to kiss them and make it feel better, like some lovestruck five-year-old on a playground.
“Are you okay? You don’t look so well.” His brow snap together as his eyes scrutinize me.
“I’m fi…” I clutch my belly as nausea overcomes me. I barely make it to the toilet, and empty the contents of my stomach. I must be getting soft in my old age, I chuckle to myself. Seeing Marco all banged up actually made me sick. Or maybe I’m coming down with a bug. I grab a washcloth from underneath the vanity and stare at the full box of tampons sitting there unopened. Huh.
“Mila, open the door.” Marco’s gruff voice startles me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine…be out in a minute.” I take a few minutes to brush my teeth and wash up.
I stagger a bit, trying to get my sea legs back. When I enter the bedroom, Marco hunts around for a fresh T-shirt for me to wear. He picks me up and carries me to the bed after helping me change.
“I’m fine, Marco.” I roll my eyes. “Now, what’s this nonsense about you fighting with Louis?”
“I’m taking the fight.”
“Marco,” I groan. “He’s never going to back off.”
“Oh…he’s going to back off. One way or another, he’s going to know you’re mine. Now let’s get you into bed. I have a quick meeting downstairs, and I’ll be back to talk and snuggle.”
“I won’t let you risk everything for me.”
“It’s not up to you. It’s my decision. My heart is full, and my head is clear. I won’t lose.”
“He wants to kill you. Look what he did to Nick.”
“I’m not afraid of a challenge.”
“Even if you win, he’s never going to stop coming after me.”
“He’s never going to see me coming. I’m ending this now, Mila. When I’m through with him …he’ll know you’re mine. I promise.”
There’s a sharp rap on the door before I get a chance to argue further. “Who’s that?”
“Matteo.”
“You’re friend…from the restaurant? The mafia guy?”
Marco strides to the door and opens it up halfway, peaking out to let Matteo know he’ll be down in five minutes. He tucks me into bed, pulling the covers up tight under my neck. I’m nauseous again and don’t have the energy to fight him right now, but we’re not done talking about this. I’m still curious to find out what he’s up to. I know he’s not telling me everything.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” His soft lips brush over mine. “Get some rest, Angel.”
“Thank you, Marco” I snag his pillow and hug it to my chest. “What’s really going on?”
“I have one more task to complete before I fight the most important battle of my life.” He leans down and presses a kiss on my forehead. My eyelids are already droopy.
Before Marco leaves to go downstairs, I hear him in the kitchen, whispering on his phone. I can barely make out what he’s saying, but my ears definitely catch his final words before he hangs up.
“Set it up.”
Chapter Seventeen
The place is packed, and the energy is fucking electric. Tickets for tonight’s fight are sold out, and then some. I’m sure this has to be a fire hazard, having this many people crammed in the gym, but nobody seems to care. They just want to see The Lion’s big comeback fight.
What’s even more unusual was the man that was in here a few minutes ago. With a goat. On a leash. The handsome copper-haired man was so adorable with the shaggy little darling, petting it and calling it Mutton in a sexy Australian voice; I didn’t have the heart to kick them out. They left because he was afraid the crowd was making the poor goat nervous, and he didn’t want the darling to pass out. Gotta love New York.
I haven’t seen Marco in a couple of hours. I’m swamped up here, collecting tickets and directing camera crews, while he’s downstairs shadowboxing with the walls, and doing whatever rituals fighters do before an MMA fight.
I’ve spent the last month hyping our Facebook and Instagram pages, and membership is up twenty percent. The gym is getting a huge chunk of money, not to mention what Marco could get if he wins, which he assures me he will. This fight could be what he needs to put the place back in the black.
I’ve spent the last four weeks trying to convince Marco this is a stupid idea. I even tried withholding sex, which only lasted a couple of days before I caved. That’s right, I was the one who relented. I mean, it’s kind of difficult to be around Marco and not want to tear every scrap of clothing off his body.
I used to enjoy watching sweaty men pound each other in the ring. Now, I cringe at the idea of anyone laying a hand on my man.
I have one last-ditch effort to try and convince Marco, so I make my way down the narrow stairway, through the mob of people.
I haven’t seen or heard from Louis since Marco agreed to this fight. Marco accepted the offer under one condition. Louis needs to leave me alone. For good. I’m assuming tonight’s fight means more to Louis than getting me back, but I’m still wondering about what will happen afterward. Once he gets what he wants, win or lose, will he continue to stalk me? He’s never been the kind of guy to take no for an answer. I feel like he’ll always some hold on me.
I turn the knob to the back room and peek in, observing Marco for a second. He sitting on a metal table, looking a little anxious as Tommy sits on a metal stool in front of him, wrapping his hands with black tape. “Hi,” I say shyly when our eyes meet.
“Hey, gorgeous.” He shoots me a crooked smile that makes me weak in the knees. “Tommy…can you give us a minute?”
“Sure, kid.” Tommy pats Marco’s thigh with a sigh. “Keep your mind on your opponent. Worry about the prize later.” He winks at me before closing the door, leaving us alone.
“I just wanted to wish you luck,” I say, breathing heavy since it feels like there is no oxygen left in the room.
“I don’t need luck.” He stands confident and incredibly handsome. He towers over me with his broad, muscular shoulders and thick chest. A body carved from stone, inked to perfection. He looks fucking edible in his black compression shorts, with a neon-colored lion head on the thigh. “But I will take a kiss for encouragement.”
“Uh…Tommy said remain focused.” I place my palm on his chest. “I’m not sure that’s a good…” Before I can finish, his sweet mouth crashes down on mine, devouring me. I moan when his tongue sweeps into my mouth and tangles with mine. Marco must be pumped up right now because the energy flowing through the kiss is explosive, and the world around us ceases to exist.
“You don’t have to do this.” I break the kiss.
“We’ve been over this, Angel,” he groans, taking a seat back up on the table. He bites the tape on his hand between his teeth and continues to wrap it around his knuckles. “Do you trust me?”