Paxton's Promise (Gloves Off #3)(55)
“Here we go,” Red announced excitedly.
Keeping my eyes glued to the screen, I stared helplessly as I watched Paxton enter the ring, confident and completely pissed off. With his body tense and ready to kill, he was almost unrecognizable. The camera was set back a little too far, but it didn’t take away from the murderous gleam in his eyes.
Without me there, I was afraid of what he would do. But when the door to the cage opened and three men ventured inside, it no longer mattered what he would do . . . it was what they were going to do to him.
“Oh, my God.”
“That’s right, sugar tits. You might want to watch because this will be the last time you see lover boy alive.”
“IT TAKES THREE of you cowards to fight me?” I snapped angrily. Scar was by the door, blocking it, while I was surrounded by the three cocksuckers. One had on a black hood, while the other two were ready to fight. A thick set of chains dangled from one of the fighter’s hands, and the other had brass knuckles with spikes.
Camden had yet to come into the room with Gabriella, which infuriated me more. I needed to see her, to make sure she was okay. If not, every motherf*cker in the room was going to feel my wrath.
“No, I think two will suffice,” the one in the hood spoke.
“Who the f*ck are you?” I asked. Judging by the malevolence pouring off him, I had no doubt who he was . . . and I was going to kill him. At least that way, I would know for a fact he couldn’t go after Gabby.
He chuckled, but kept his face hidden. I wanted to know who the f*ck he was; his voice was familiar. “You know who I am. I’m the one who’s going to walk right out of here and go straight to your girl. Someone has to console her after she finds out your dead.”
Growling, I lunged forward, but was stopped when both of the other fighters grabbed a hold of me. Rage laughed and stalked forward. “You’re not going to touch her, you psycho ass motherf*cker. I’m not going to let you hurt her like you did the other women you stalked, harassed, and killed.”
“Those bitches had it coming. They f*cked me over and paid the price. However, I don’t plan on hurting Gabriella at all, if she submits to me. You see, she’s different. I could see it in her eyes that she wants me. If it wasn’t for you, I’d already have her. Once you’re out of the way, she’ll be mine.” Turning on his heel, he headed for the cage door.
“So you’re a pathetic coward then,” I spat. “It’s funny because I thought you were going to fight me on your own. I guess you’re scared of the Reaper.”
He stopped mid-step, his hands clenched at his sides. Slowly, he turned around and I could smell his anger permeating the room. I needed him to stay in the ring, at least until Mason and his people got into place. “I’m not scared of you,” he growled low. “I’d just rather be f*cking my girl than being here, wasting my time with you. Farewell, Reaper.”
Scar opened the door and before Rage could stroll out, I head butted the guy behind me, breaking his nose, and punched the other in the side of the head. All I could see was red as I charged toward Rage. Still, it wasn’t fast enough before the cage door was slammed in my face—Rage on the other side, walking away.
Scar smirked. “It’s been good having you around Reaper, but your time is up.”
I heard the chains being whipped into the air only mere seconds before pain exploded in my head. Blood oozed down my neck and back, but I couldn’t focus on the pain. Rage exited the room and I knew it was only a matter of time before Gabriella would be in his grasp.
“DAMN, DID YOU see that hit?” Red blurted excitedly. “I bet he’s got one hell of a headache right now.”
I’d seen the hit and it made me sick. Screaming for Paxton to turn around, tears welled in my eyes when he took the hit.
“I’m kind of bummed though. Rage was supposed to murder his ass.”
“That was Rage who left?” I asked, stomach clenching. I was hoping it wasn’t him.
Red nodded. “He’s probably on his way to you. He’s been hard up for you ever since Vegas.”
Holy f*ck. What was I going to do? “How far away are we from there?”
Red huffed and grabbed my chin, turning it to the television. “That’s none of your concern. Now watch the damn fight.”
When I tried to jerk out of his hold, he clenched down harder, keeping my face in the direction of the laptop. Fighting off two men with weapons wasn’t easy, and every minute that passed by, I could see Paxton slowly begin to falter.
Where the hell was Mason? The guy with the spiky knuckles took a swipe at Pax and it sliced across his chest, blood oozing down. When Paxton stumbled, the fighter with the chains reared back and pummeled him on the side of the head. Paxton went down . . . and everything in my world shattered. I struggled to breathe, to think, as I sat there looking at his still form.
“Get up,” I shouted as the tears welled in my eyes. Red laughed as both fighters circled the ring triumphantly. I ignored him and kept my focus on Paxton, my fighter. He had to get up, he just had to. There was no way in hell I was going to imagine being in a world without him.
“He’s not getting up. He’s done,” Red chuckled victoriously. “That was too f*cking easy.”
Both fighters circled around Paxton’s motionless body and moved closer and closer. Come on, Pax. Get up. My stomach clenched and when I thought I couldn’t watch anymore, Red shut the lid closed, just as the other fighters were about to start beating him again.