Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(3)

I shook my head. “Then why doesn’t she just get in touch with Ryley and talk it out? It’s obvious they’re both miserable.”

“You would think, but Ashleigh told me not to say anything to him about her and Colin breaking up. Believe me, it’s hard as shit keeping a secret, especially one that huge, from Ryley. Ashleigh said she wanted to be alone for a while. That’s why she left for Aspen.”

“So basically you don’t want me to say anything, is that it?” I confirmed.

Nodding, she looked down at her clasped hands. “Yes, please. I don’t know what’s going to happen between the two of them, but I figured it’s best to stay out of it. Hopefully, she’ll tell me what’s going on when I get out there.”

“And Bradley is going with you,” I stated.

Biting her lip, she peered up at me and nodded again. “I guess you can say he’s my safe place. He keeps a certain someone away from me . . . kind of.”

Now that she was training, I knew she was around a lot of the other fighters. The only other one I knew who was trying to get her was Paxton Emerson.

“Please tell me it’s not Paxton,” I warned. “You need to stay the f*ck away from him. Being with me is one thing, but guys like him are a completely different story.”

When Gabriella was in Vegas, my fight had been against Paxton. With the way he looked at her, I knew something was going on. I told him then to stay away from her but obviously he didn’t understand what I meant. It looked like I needed to change that.

Gabriella smiled and moved closer, biting her lip provocatively. “Oh, I think I’ve done pretty well in that arena, don’t you think? Plus, he’s friends with Kyle. That immediately puts him on my shit list.”

Kyle Andrews was my enemy. Now that Gabriella’s brother retired, his Heavyweight title was up for grabs, which meant Kyle and I would most likely be fighting for it at the end of the season. That f*cker was going down.

“What is he doing to bother you?” I asked through clenched teeth.

Tentatively, she shrugged her shoulders. “He keeps asking me out. But don’t worry, I tell him to f*ck off every time. It’s like he enjoys tormenting me. The part that really pisses me off is that he comes to me when he knows my brother isn’t around. I’m pretty sure it’s Kyle’s way of getting under my skin.”

“Do you want me to handle it?”

Mischievously, Gabriella smiled and climbed onto my lap, straddling my waist. “Actually, my body is the only thing I need you to man handle.” She squeezed her legs and released, relaxing into my lap. “If this is the last time we’re going to be together, I want to make it good. Pax will eventually get a clue and leave me alone. If not, you are more than welcome to kick his as—if I don’t do it first.”

I planned on doing it anyway.

Lifting her dress above her thighs, Gabriella rocked her hips against mine. My dick got hard as I watched her lick her lips. She was going to f*cking kill me. As much as I hated the fact this was our last time together, it was actually for the best. She knew it, and I knew it.

Gripping her neck, I pulled her down to me and bit her lip. “Making it good is something I can promise you.”





“ALL RIGHT, SON, I’m leaving everything in your capable hands. I trust you to keep everything in order,” Jake advised, standing by the front door of his club.

Jake Montgomery was my boss and the Labyrinth had always been a second home when I wasn’t in the ring. For years, I’d been a bouncer at the exclusive club. Jake had a thing for the Roman era, so the whole building was made to look like a Roman cathedral. I swear he must’ve watched Gladiator one too many times.

For this particular weekend, I was going to be its owner while Jake left on his business trip. He trusted me, and I wouldn’t let him down. In fact, I was ready for him to leave so I could plan the fights.

“Now get out of here before you miss your flight. I won’t let the place burn down,” I promised.

Jake was in his early fifties and always pristine in his blue power suits and salt and peppered hair perfectly slicked back on his head. Most night club owners I knew were worthless douche bags who only cared about themselves and making money, but he actually cared about his employees. We were all he had as far as family.

After he met my father and found out about my MMA fighting, he started holding fights at the club because he knew it would help get me noticed. I owed him so much.

Taking one last look at the empty club, Jake picked up his brown leather suitcase and opened the door. “I’ll be back Sunday night,” he warned, pointing a finger at me. “And no fighting for you this weekend. I’m sure once you see the list you’re going to want to partake, but it’s your job to run the club.”

Incredulously, I gasped and slapped him on the back. “Please, I have a little more restraint than that, old man.”

“Whatever you say, son,” he chuckled. “Call me if you need me.”

Opening the door, he looked back once and smiled before the door slammed shut. Immediately, I went to the list he left on the bar and searched down each line. Halfway down the list there was his name . . . Paxton Emerson. No wonder Jake told me I couldn’t fight.

I promised Gabriella I wouldn’t go after him, and if he didn’t stop, there was no way in hell I was going to keep my mouth shut. She might not be mine, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to be his.