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“I thought you might not show, young Romeo!” Leo shouted from the other side of the stage.
“Your lack of response is driving him fucking crazy. Stay the course,” River said, leaning close to my ear.
He was right.
But it was getting more challenging to keep my mouth shut. Especially after what happened to Demi. My hands fisted as the announcer took the microphone and introduced us. I tuned out all the noise and stripped off my hoodie as I stepped onto the scale, ignoring the voice of my enemy, who was relentlessly trying to engage me.
He stepped onto the scale next, throwing his hands in the air like the pathetic showman he was.
He didn’t look like the big, bad fighter I’d envisioned.
He looked like a scared little bitch who had done a lot more talking than training.
My jaw ticked as I watched him step off the scale and wink at me.
And then we walked toward one another, standing shoulder to shoulder for photos.
“You’re awfully quiet, Romeo,” he said. We weren’t mic’d, so no one who wasn’t standing beside us could hear our conversation, which included Joey and Leo’s coach, Tito, and a very large bodyguard hired by the fight promoters to make sure nothing went down today.
“I’ll save my talking for tomorrow,” I said, as we turned to face one another.
“One round and you’re going down,” he said, his tone cocky and unapologetic.
I leaned forward, keeping my voice low. “Not happening. And aren’t you used to knocking down girls? Using other people to do your dirty work? Be ready because I’m not going down after what you did to Demi. You’re going to have to take the last breath from my lungs before that happens.”
He pulled back, glanced at the audience, and smirked, but there was confusion in his gaze as he looked at me, leaning forward for my ears only. “Not sure why you’re bringing your girl into the mix. I’ve always had my sights set on you. But if she’s looking for an upgrade after I put you in the hospital, I’ll be waiting.”
I could feel myself on the verge of going completely batshit crazy on this fucker. Joey’s hand clasped my shoulder, and I looked up, eyes locked with Leo’s. “Good luck with that.”
I turned and walked away before things got worse.
“Stay calm. It’s getting to him.” Joey led me back to our group, and we got our stuff together so we could get ready to go eat, and then I planned on getting some much-needed sleep.
“Hey!” someone shouted as we walked down the back hallway with security. I turned around to see Tito.
I narrowed my gaze, and we all came to a stop.
“What the fuck does he want?” River asked.
“Can I talk to you, Romeo?” Tito said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one was around.
What were they up to now?
“Not without me,” Joey said.
Lincoln and River were right behind me and Joey, but I held up my hand. Leo wasn’t going to send his coach to jump me when I was with a group of guys.
“It’s fine,” I said, as I moved closer, and he met me halfway.
Joey kept one shoulder right in front of me as if he were ready to dive in if needed. “If he sent you to harass my boy, you better turn around and walk away. You’ve put him through enough, but he’s still here, isn’t he? I’m wondering if that was the plan. Make it so he couldn’t show?”
Tito’s brows cinched. He was a large man in his mid-forties, and he’d been by Leo’s side since the beginning. “Leo is a showman. He has hyped this fight for months. I don’t always agree with how he does things, but he’s brought in a lot of money and a lot of attention to this fight. And you’ve played your part, Romeo. Staying quiet. Taking the high road. I respect it. But there was something different today, and Leo felt it, too. He doesn’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about with hitting girls and bringing your girl into it. That’s not his style. He’s all about the verbal sparring and then going at it in the ring when it’s time. So whatever beef you have with him over your girl, he isn’t aware of it.”
“Maybe he didn’t tell you what he did,” I said, my hands fisting every time I thought about Demi on the ground. About the way she cried in pain. “But it went too far this time.”
“Romeo, he doesn’t make a move without me. Check your facts before you go there. It’s not his style.”
“Maybe you need to check your facts, Tito,” Joey said, moving forward. “Because his girlfriend is as good as they come. You don’t see her here, do you? Ask your boy where she is.”
