Ryley's Revenge (Gloves Off #2)(60)

“Joy,” she mumbled.

I’d had enough. “You two are driving me insane. It’s obvious you both want each other, so stop playing the mind games and do what feels right. The more you fight it, the harder it is. Trust me, I should know.”

The car filled with an awkward silence, but I didn’t care, it just proved I was right. I’d spent a month away from Ryley when all I wanted to do was hop on a plane and beg him to take me back. I wasn’t the type of girl to beg, but when you’re faced with the fact you could lose someone forever, you’d do just about anything. Gabby kept pushing Paxton away, and if she wasn’t careful he’d give up and move on.

“Are we almost there?” Gabriella complained.

Paxton slowed the car until he came to a complete stop. “Now we are. You have to keep your blindfolds on until we get inside. Just sit in the car and I’ll help each of you out. There are some expensive wheels on both sides and if I have to pay for damages, you’re going to owe me a lot more than what I’m already charging you.”

When he got out of the car, I tilted my head toward the stubborn girl in the back. “Stop being a bitch to him,” I hissed low.

She sighed. “I can’t help it, Ash. He drives me insane. I can’t let him wear me down.”

“Suit yourself. Be miserable. I can’t force you to see reason.”

Paxton opened up my door and took my hand. There were voices all around and then whistles as I stepped out of the car. He put his arm around my shoulders and led me around to the other side to get Gabriella. Once she was out of the car, Paxton walked slowly since he was guiding two blind women into the unknown. The gravel crunched beneath my heels and it was a wonder I didn’t trip and break an ankle.

“Once we’re through this line you can take the blindfolds off,” Paxton murmured. “Gabriella, they’re going to put a bracelet on you. Don’t fight it when they grab you. You’re supposed to be willing.”

“I’ll be fine,” she answered.

“And Ashleigh, do not run off from me.” Instead of a reply, I nodded my head and kept walking. Judging by the voices up ahead, we were almost at the entrance. “Okay, here we go.”

“Well, well, if it isn’t the one and only Reaper. Congrats on the title fight. You haven’t been here in a while. Wanna challenge someone?” The guy’s voice was deep and gruff, and I could just imagine what he looked like, all bulging on steroids with a neck as thick as my thigh.

“Not tonight. I’m here to watch the twins battle it out. Maybe next time though since I have some time on my hands.”

“I hear ya. We’d love to see you back in the ring. So what are you offering tonight?”

Paxton’s body moved and I knew he was guiding Gabriella forward. “I’m bidding this little kitten,” he said. “She may look innocent, but she’s a pistol in the bed, if you know what I mean.”

I heard a smack sound, like he’d slapped her on the ass. Here we go.

“Very nice,” the guy added. “It’s a shame I’m not fighting tonight.”

And just when I thought I had heard it all, Gabriella’s voice spoke out and Paxton tensed. “Oh, don’t worry, big man. I’m sure I’ll be back again sometime.”

As soon as I heard him snap the bracelet around her wrist, we were off. Paxton pulled us fast inside the door and let us go. When I lifted my blindfold, I watched him take Gabriella’s off, fuming at her. “I swear you’re trying to f*cking kill me, aren’t you? Don’t speak to anyone Gabriella. These are not the type of people I want you being around.”

Her smile faded and she nodded, especially when she noticed me glaring at her. She had a mouth on her, and luckily, it’d never gotten her in trouble. We weren’t exactly in a place where she could joke around.

“Noted. Where do we go from here?”

Paxton looked at us both and sighed. “We’re going to go through another set of doors and down a flight of stairs into a basement of sorts. Since it’s late, most of the other fights should be about over. There’ll be a hallway we walk through that has windows into other rooms. Ryley will be in one and Camden will be in another. This is where you decide on who you want to bid on.”

I gasped. “Will he be able to see us?”

We started down the hall and through the other set of doors. It was dark and dank, smelling of mildew. The stairs didn’t look too inviting either with only a blinking light illuminating the path.

“No. We can see in, but he can’t see out.”

Taking the steps one at a time, I half expected a line of people to follow us, but we were the only ones. It was eerie. Eventually, we got to the hallway where it was nothing but separated rooms on each side with a glass panel to look in for each section. There was a man at the end of the hall with a bald head who beckoned us closer with a wave of his hand. He was a fighter as well, judging by the build and stature.

“They must be at the end of the hall,” Paxton explained.

Sure enough, when we got there, I looked into the room on my left and saw Camden, lifting a set of weights with his muscles bulging. His body was bigger, more muscular. No doubt the product of steroids. Turning away, I couldn’t stomach to look at him anymore. Even Gabriella couldn’t stand it any longer. I wanted to say that it wasn’t fair, but then again, the Dark Side had no rules.