Page 69 of The Fighter

“It’ll destroy her.”

“You don’t have to be a martyr anymore, Tav.”

He huffed a dark laugh. “That’s a little rich coming from you.”

Ouch.“We’re not talking about me.” He looked away, jaw clenched. “I won’t tell you what to do. I told you before that I have no desire to control you or your life, other than to keep you safe and happy. But I also won’t hesitate to tell you what I think.” I took a deep breath before I said my parting shot. “You finally looked in the mirror, and now it’s time to look your sister in the face.” I rose to my feet, feeling unsteady. I needed to eat something. It’d been hours.

When I reached the door of the gym, Tav’s voice brought me up short. “Con.” I turned to find him on his feet, looking more like himself. “Where’re you going?”

“To visit your sister.” His eyes went wide, and he opened his mouth, likely to protest, but I held up a hand to stop him. “I’m the one who had her drugged and kidnapped with her four-year-old. Those are my men watching her. I owe her an explanation so that when you come talk to her, you can focus on you and her only.”

His eyes shifted between mine. Back and forth. Before he nodded tightly. “Fine.” His fingers twitched, and then he strode toward me and grabbed my hips. He pressed a hard kiss to my lips, nearly bruising, before touching our foreheads together. “I’m mad at you, but I’m also thankful. So thankful.”

I suddenly felt a little stronger. More sure. “You can feel however you like. Just don’t leave me.”

A smile ghosted his lips and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Too late. I’m your parasite now.”

I’d let him bleed me dry.

TWENTY-FOUR

Conrad

I stood outside the apartment on the tenth floor. Inside, I could hear the raised voice of a pissed-off woman.

I inhaled and exhaled and straightened the lapels of my suit, which I’d donned like armor. I’d faced off against evil like Devlin, and yet the thought of looking Tav’s sister in the eye made the sweat bead at my temples. Nik stood at my back, and while I knew I had to face this myself, his presence helped calm my nerves.

My guilt was ever-present, coating me with a slimy film that I couldn’t seem to rinse off no matter how much I scrubbed. If I’d been able to control Devlin all those years ago, this never would have happened. Tav would be some famous fighter, and his sister would be his biggest fan. Not this fucked up situation they were in now.

I rapped at the door, and it swung open immediately to reveal the head of Nik’s small crew of our most trusted men. Cameron nodded at me and then flinched as the female voicewhich had been at a lower register rose to a screech. “—and now what?”

I patted his shoulder, and he stepped aside for me to pass him. I strode into the apartment, Nik following closely behind.

Amara stood in the center of the apartment, Holden on her hip. She’d been taken right after she had left work and picked up Holden from preschool, so she still wore a pair of black pants and a white dress shirt. I’d had the apartment stocked with clothes for her to change into. A quick glance down the hall into the bedroom showed me exactly what she thought of those clothes, as they were thrown all over the floor and bed.

Her hair was a dark mass of tangles, and her face was flushed with anger. Her eyes, both the same color as Tav’s green one, shone fever-bright with myriad emotions that ranged from rage to fear. Behind her, Ben stood next to a half-constructed LEGO set. Four of my men stood in separate corners of her apartment as guard.

Holden clutched his mother, eyes wet and little chin wobbling. He shook, and Amara closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and then hugged him to her chest. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry I yelled. Everything’s fine.” Her voice shook as she repeated. “Everything’s fine.”

But her eyes snapped open to land on me, and fury blazed there. She gently lowered her son and then pushed him to stand behind her. She angled her body so that she faced all the men in the room, her son behind her, like an elephant mother protecting its young from a pack of lions.

I respected her immediately.

The resemblance to Tav was there in the dark wavy hair, the high cheekbones, and full lips. She was curvy, with an ample chest and wide hips. Barefoot, she stood maybe five-four.

Ben stepped forward. “She, uh, woke up about fifteen minutes ago.” He gestured at her. “It’s been like this since.”

“Because you fucking abducted me, you dick.” She spat at him. Then, as if remembering her son, she turned around and brushed Holden’s cheek, her voice softening immediately. “Sorry, baby. I’ll add to the swear jar when we get back. Mommy’s sorry.”

“Milkshakes,” Holden’s little voice said. I couldn’t see him from behind her body. “Lots of dollars for milkshakes.”

“Of course.” She cooed at him, even as her voice trembled. “So many milkshakes, baby.”

Right, it was time for me talk. I stepped forward, and she tensed, hands behind her to protect her son. My mother had never, ever, not once apologized for swearing or done a damn thing to protect me from the predators who lurked in White Hill trailer park.

“I’m Conrad Stafford,” I said. “You’re here on my orders.” She stared at me as her chest shuddered with scared breaths. “And that’s because Devlin Walsh is currently searching this city top to bottom for you.” Her body language didn’t change at the mention of Devlin’s name. “And trust me when I say that you do not want him to find you. I ordered my men to bring you here to keep you safe. I know they drugged you, and I’m not sorry for that, because you would have hurt yourself fighting. I don’t want you or your son hurt in any way.”

A muscle in her jaw ticked. “Look, I don’t know who thefuckyou are, or who the fuck youthinkyou are, but?—”