Paxton's Promise (Gloves Off #3)(40)

“What’s going on?”

“It looks like your friend just bit off more than he can chew. He f*cked up, Gabby. If he gets in, I don’t know if he’s going to make it out.”

“He’s just trying to protect me, Camden. I can’t let anything happen to him.”

“There’s nothing you can do. As soon as we get inside the gates, it’s all out of our hands.”

After the thirty minutes were up, the car came to a stop and Camden helped me out. My heart lurched with guilt, especially when I heard Cliff’s voice in the distance. It disappeared all too quickly.

Camden pulled me along. “I really hope you brought something else to wear besides those f*cking yoga pants.”

“Yes,” I spat. “I was afraid Scar would make me fight naked if I didn’t.”

“Several guys have requested it, but Rage was the one who got you out of it.” We got inside and he pulled the blindfold off. “He doesn’t want the others looking at you.”

Or having sex with me. He made that abundantly clear when he left a disfigured rose outside of the announcer’s box. The guy was seriously insane, delusional. I had no words. Scar’s office was just down the hall, but when I looked behind me there was no sign of Cliff. I could only pray he was okay. The door to Scar’s office was open and inside he sat at his desk, waiting on me.

“So we meet again,” he said with a wolfish grin on his face.

“Not by choice,” I grumbled.

“And it seems you brought a problem with you this time. Now, how am I going to handle this?” Pursing his lips, he gaped at me, tapping a finger to his lips.

“I’ll take responsibility for him,” I blurted out. Camden pinched me in the side and I hissed. He obviously didn’t like that decision.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Scar asked.

“Yes.”

“All right, it’s his life on the line if you lose. I hope you’re prepared for that.” Lowering his gaze, he busied himself with the stack of papers in front of him.

“So you’re going to kill him if I lose?” I gasped.

Scar didn’t even acknowledge me. He just waved his hand in the air dismissively. “Take her away, Striker.”

Gripping my arm, Camden dragged me out of the office and down the hall. “Camden, stop. If I lose, you can’t let Scar kill him,” I cried.

“There’s nothing I can do. It’s just the way things are here.” He opened the door to one of the cells and pushed me in. “Change clothes and I’ll be back to get you soon.”

I was so angry and terrified, my body shook. Cliff’s life was in danger and his fate rested in my hands. Tonight, there was no playing the innocent female. If I had to win the fight, I was sure as hell going to do it my way.





WHEN CAMDEN CAME back to get me, his eyes went wide when he took me in. I ripped up my yoga pants and T-shirt so that it would give me the movement I needed, but still the amount of skin exposure Scar wanted. My hands were wrapped and I was in full warrior mode. No smile, no sign of weakness, just me and the task at hand. I was going to make my opponent suffer.

“Gabby?”

I had thought Camden was going to help me; that maybe there was a heart inside of him somewhere. Unfortunately, he was just like the rest of them—a murderous, money hungry, piece of shit. For one night, I was going to give in and let my anger fly. I would show them all, including Rage, what my rage looked like.

“Sorry, Striker, Gabby’s not here right now. If Scar wants a fight, he’s going to get it. And if Rage wants a helpless female, he’s going to see I’m not that girl. I’ll fight him and everyone else who tries to f*ck with me and Paxton.”

Camden stepped out of the way so I could pass. “I need to tell you something.”

I stopped in front of him, but kept my gaze toward the end of the hall. “I don’t want to hear shit from you,” I sneered. “I don’t need your help or anyone else’s. All of you can go to hell.”

Camden jerked me out into the hallway and pinned me against the wall. I yelped as the breath whooshed out of my lungs and his fingers grasped my chin tight, tilting my face up. “I may be a monster in your eyes, Gabby, but there’s something you need to know. I was walking by Scar’s office and I heard him talking to someone. I don’t know who, but I think it was Rage.” Letting my chin go, his eyes darted up and down the hall and then he leaned closer. My gut clenched.

“They want to go after Paxton,” he said. “It’s been their plan all along. Rage wants to fight him and kill him. That way he’ll get to you.” Camden put his hand over my mouth when I gasped and put a finger to his lips. “Be quiet,” he hissed.

When I nodded, he removed his hand. “How do they plan on getting him here?” I had the sinking suspicion I knew.

He sighed. “By the look in your eyes, I think you already know. They’re going to use you as bait. I’m telling you this because I need you to be prepared. Paxton needs to know. You have to tell him what’s going on.”

This whole time, I thought I was saving Paxton. How could I be so stupid? “When are they planning on doing this?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I’m not sure. You guys just need to be ready. But right now, it’s your turn to fight.” Grasping my arm, he led me down to the end of the hallway and opened the door. The energy pouring off of the crowd around the ring made me gag. It was thick with the stench of malevolence and sex. I wanted them all to suffer.