Paxton's Promise (Gloves Off #3)(32)
For Camden to come to my aid, meant my situation was beyond bad. Now I was completely and utterly terrified. Jumping to my feet, I felt sick to my stomach, but even more so, I was furious. “I didn’t agree to be passed on to some lunatic, like a skank-ass whore. This is my life we’re talking about. I agreed to help you recoup your money. I don’t owe you anything else.”
“I’m doing you a favor, Miss Reynolds,” Scar retorted. “Rage wants you, but he knows the deal. In my house, he has to play by the rules. He’s agreed to the terms. At least this way, you can escape from him. If you win, he lets you go. I can’t promise he’ll leave you alone once you’re free, but for now you will be.” He then turned his cold, heartless eyes to Camden. “And if you want to fight him for her, that’s your deal; but if he doesn’t agree to the fight, the rules still stand. She will go to him if she loses.”
Clenching his jaw, Camden turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him. For once in my life, I wanted him to come back and tell me it would be okay. That had always been Ryley’s job, but it looked like his brother was my only hope. I had no one else to turn to.
“What is he so upset about?” I demanded. “What’s so bad about Rage, other than his name and the fact he’s a psycho stalker?”
“I hope you never find out. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I thought you would lose.”
“Great, thanks for the vote of confidence,” I muttered.
Scar smirked and then nodded at Red. “Take her to the room.” Then to me, he said, “And while you’re in there, try to make it look believable.”
Red grabbed my arm and pulled me out the door. I had hoped Camden would be just outside, but he wasn’t. I guess he wasn’t going to help me after all.
THE ROOM THEY put me in was different from the ones they had in Las Vegas. This time I could see and hear everyone who came past to make their bids. None of them could see my face though, as I was cowered in the corner with my head down. Little did they know I wasn’t weak, or that I was seething inside. I hated them all. Their excitement over watching a man beat a woman was disgusting and depraved.
Over time, their murmurs faded and then disappeared. It wasn’t long after that when Red opened the door.
“It’s time to go,” he said.
My thoughts strayed to Paxton. I hated not being there to watch him race, but if I didn’t fight, he wouldn’t be able to have any more of them. By the soulless look in Scar’s eyes, he contained very little humanity. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’d killed at least a dozen men, maybe more. I knew he wouldn’t have an issue going after Paxton. Getting to my feet, I kept my head down and trudged over to the door.
“Remember, I need you to be reluctant when I force you into the ring.”
“Act like a scared little girl. Give the disgusting pigs what they want. Got it,” I snapped. He stopped me by the door and I could hear the shouts of excitement on the other side. “What you people do is revolting. I’d like to see you get up in the ring with me.”
“Is that a challenge?” he asked, his lip tilting up devilishly.
“Take it for what it’s worth. I just know someone needs to teach you all a lesson.” There was no way I could win against someone like him, but it sure would feel good to get one hit in. Stretching my arms overhead, I rolled my shoulders and snapped my neck to each side. I was ready to go. “Let’s get this over with so I can go home.”
“As you wish,” he chuckled.
It was show time.
He grabbed both of my arms and I kicked and yelped as he threw the door open, dragging me inside. I’d left my hair down so it could cover the furiousness in my gaze. If looks could kill, everyone in the room would be dead. Through my hair I could see a row of women sitting in the ‘victory’ section by the ring. They were the women men had gambled with. What woman in her right mind would want to go to that fat, perverted bastard in the ring?
Red pushed me into the cage, making me fall to the mat. Here we go. Brushing the hair out of my face, I looked up in time to see the fat bastard heading my way, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. He grabbed a handful of my hair and lifted me to my feet, pulling me into him. It hurt like a bitch and I screamed when I could feel it tearing out of my scalp.
“You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you? It’s a shame I can’t take you home with me.” His breath smelled like stale coffee and eggs.
“Thank God for small favors,” I hissed low. I wanted to vomit in his face, but he jerked me around by the hair, throwing me down on the mat. Scar was sitting by the ring, surrounded by other men, including Camden and another guy wearing a dark hood hung low over his face. It made me wonder if it was Rage under there.
All this fat f*cker had to do was make me bleed and it would all be over. I was surprised my head wasn’t bleeding, but thankfully, my hands came back clean. Before I could get to my feet, he grabbed my ankles and slid me to him, collapsing on my body. The breath whooshed out of my lungs and I gasped for air.
“Let’s see here. How am I going to make you bleed?” His hard cock pressed into my thigh and in that moment, things were seriously getting f*cked up, fast. There were plenty of ways he could make me bleed and I wasn’t about to let him try any of them.