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“Remember how Axel always hated to lose?”
“Yeah.” Her lips twitch in a smirk. Probably at the memory of the odd occasion when Axel would fail, and as a result would absolutely lose his shit.
“Well he’s even worse now.” I wink and she laughs, but I’m not actually joking.
He’s damn near insufferable with his need to control everything, but as the only person to ever take a bullet for me, I guess I can tolerate his little quirks. He may have a stone-cold solid lump of rock where his heart should be, but at least it’s in the right place. Who knows, that lump of coal might even turn into a diamond under the right sort of pressure.
“Who’s he fighting anyway?”
“Some cocky little shit. He’s pretty high up in the professional MMA circuit, but like I said, cocky as fuck which will be his downfall. He’s being sponsored by one of our biggest business rivals, so Axel really has something to prove.”
“Who knew the hospitality industry could be so cutthroat?” she replies dryly and I internalise a laugh as I pull her through the crowd towards the ring.
Axel is in his corner, preparing to kick ass by shooting death glares at Harry, who’s acting as the commentator announcing him. We stop once we’ve pushed our way to the very front, standing directly in his line of sight. Odi seems surprised to see her cousin standing up there but she doesn’t comment on it.
In the other corner, Axel’s opponent is getting a last minute pep talk by his trainer, who also happens to be the head enforcer for Axel’s father.
Harry announces the other guy – ironically named The Kid on account of his size – and he hops off his seat and waves to the crowd like he just fucking won already.
“Whoa. You sure Axel can take this guy?” Odi asks, her eyes like saucers as she takes in The Kid’s height, weight and width. He does cut an impressive figure, and he has the stats to back it up, but he’s arrogant. Probably more so than Axel, if such a thing is possible.
“I’d be willing to bet on it, if you’re game?”
“Oh? What do I get if I win?”
“What do you want?”
“Out of this contest?” She smiles sweetly. I shake my head and she sighs. “Fine. If I win, I want you to owe me a favour.”
“What favour?”
“I don’t know yet, but I feel like it would be good to have one in the bank.”
“Deal. So long as it doesn’t involve killing my brothers or getting you out of this contest.”
“So no fucking with Zie or Axel?” she pouts.
“I said no killing. I’ll fuck with them plenty for you.”
Brightening, she nods and grins at me. “So does that mean you’ll happily kill someone else for me?”
“Anyone,” I tell her, deadly serious. Her face falls as she realises how serious I am, and I’m mesmerised as she swallows nervously.
I decide to go easy on her. “But I’m going to win this bet so it doesn’t matter. That said, if you need anyone killing, I’ll do it for free. It gets me hard.” I wink again, loving how easy the banter is between us, even though once again I’m being serious.
“Okay, well let’s pretend you might win. What do you want?”
“I need a date,” I reply without hesitation. “It’s parents’ evening next weekend and the family meal is obligatory for any students whose parents decide to attend. Both Axel and Zie’s families aren’t coming, but my dad is. Just my dad. I could really use you there as a buffer. You know…”
“I’ll do it,” she replies without hesitation. I must do a double take or look as incredulous as I feel because she quickly adds, “If you win. Which isn’t going to happen! Look at the size of that guy!”
“Deal. Now take off that fucking hoodie and show me what you’re really hiding under there.”
She fake gasps and pretends to clutch her invisible pearls in outrage but she can’t maintain the ruse for even a second, her jade eyes twinkling with mischief. She laughs and gives in. “You got me. How did you know?”
“Because as pissed off as this outfit has made Axel, I know you’re packing a bigger punch than that.”
She grins. “Maybe…here, hold this a sec.” She passes me her knife and a tiny little black bag with a wrist strap. I stare at the purse like it’s a bomb. “It won’t bite.” She snorts, and I scowl at her.
