Ryley's Revenge (Gloves Off #2)(56)

That didn’t surprise me. His whole body was riddled with them. I held up the long scrap of black cloth. “A blindfold?”

Scar glared at me through the rearview mirror. “Yes, jackass. You’re an outsider. We don’t disclose our secrets to those who don’t belong.”

He stopped on the side of the road and waited for me to put it on before he went any further. Once I had it secure, he started back on the way. “Good boy,” he taunted. “Before we get there, I will go over some things with you. Your brother has challenged you to a fight and now that you’ve accepted, there’s no turning back. When we arrive, I’m going to put you in a room, so our bidders can come and take a look at you. You won’t be able to see them, but they’ll be able to see you.”

“They’re gambling on us?” I asked dryly.

“Didn’t I say no questions?” he snapped. “If they bid on the right fighter, they get rewards.” The way he said it made it sound like it wasn’t just money these people were gambling with. Unfortunately, I was about to find out.

“After the bidders make their rounds, we tally up the bids and then we bring you out. Both fighters agree to the terms once in the ring. Some make up their own rules and some just go balls out. The bloodier they make it, the more money they make. If you make it good enough, you could go home with half a million dollars tonight.”

“I don’t want your f*cking blood money,” I growled. “I’m only going to fight my brother and be done with it, nothing else. After that, I’m getting the f*ck out.”

Scar chuckled and the car came to a stop. “If you can walk. Sometimes people don’t get up. But as far as the money, it’s your choice. If you don’t want it, it leaves more for me.”

He got out of the car and the door to my right opened. “Let’s go, Jameson. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Grabbing my bag, I jumped out of the car and was led toward the unknown. I didn’t know where I was or what was about to happen, but I knew one thing . . . I was ready.





AS SOON AS we got into the car, Gabriella called Paxton, and to our advantage, he was in Las Vegas. He agreed to see us and it just so happened he was staying at the same hotel. Their conversation was awkward, almost like there was something she wasn’t telling me.

“Are you sure this is going to work?” I asked. “The last time you two were together, I sensed some tension. I don’t think he’ll want to help out after you were such a bitch to him.”

Her mouth flew open as she slammed the brakes on the rental car. “I was not a bitch,” she exclaimed. “Paxton and I just have some disagreements, that’s all.”

“Yeah, disagreeing over who likes the other one more . . .” I mumbled.

She shot me a death stare.

“Are you sure nothing’s going on between you two? I mean, there’s like some serious sexual intensity there. If I can feel it, then there’s definitely something going on.”

Gabriella got out of the car and I followed. Tyler and Kacey stopped behind us and rolled down the window. “You guys okay?” he asked.

Forcing a smile, I nodded while Gabriella waved. “Yeah, we’re fine,” I shouted. “Thank you for everything.”

“No problem. Make sure to call if you need me.”

I waved and kept the smile on my face until he and Kacey disappeared out of the parking lot. Gabriella started to walk off, but I caught up to her and grabbed her arm. “Hey, don’t walk away from me. What’s going on with you and Pax? Best friends tell each other things.”

“Oh, really?” she countered with a smug smile. “I seem to remember you flying off to Aspen and keeping me in the dark.”

Side by side, we walked into the hotel and got into the elevator. “I know and I’m sorry about that. I should have told you, but I thought maybe it wouldn’t be real if I didn’t believe it.” Her face paled as if I struck a chord. “What is it?” I asked.

The elevator doors opened and she pulled me to the side. “Okay, fine. I’ll tell you what’s going on. I kissed him a couple weeks ago and it was a mistake. That’s it.”

“Why was it a mistake?”

“Because,” she snapped. “It just was. How would it look to be with someone who helped f*ck over my brother? I’d be a traitor.”

So that was the hold up. “People change, Gabby. He honestly seems like a good person. Maybe a little rough around the edges, but still a good guy.”

“It’s not going to happen, Ash. I can’t allow it. Now, can we go and get this over with? If Kacey says he used to go to these fights, then he has access. He’s the only one who can help us at this point.”

I waved my hand toward the hall. “Lead the way.”

Taking a deep breath, she blew it out and marched down the hall to Paxton’s room. My thoughts strayed to Ryley and what he was doing. Was he already there? Was he fighting? Each second I spent away from him made me sicker, but most of all, it made me angry. This was the last time Camden was going to take our happiness away from us. If I knew I was able, I’d volunteer to get up into the ring with him.

Once we stopped at Paxton’s door, Gabriella stared at it and froze. I waited for her to knock and when she didn’t, I did it myself—pounding on it. She turned to me, snarling.