Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(70)
It’s a strange feeling to be touched by someone you absolutely hate. It’s like all of your fighting instincts appear. As hard as I could, I elbowed him in the side and he doubled over. My car keys were on the kitchen counter, so I raced toward them. I didn’t get very far, as I was tackled to the floor by Jordan, his body heavy on top of mine. He flipped me over and straddled my waist, holding my arms above my head.
“Now that wasn’t very nice,” he taunted. “We can’t have that.” His breath smelled like cigarette smoke, so I turned my head and tried to keep from gagging. However, I knew I was in trouble when Liam stood above me.
Licking his lips, he smiled down at me with a set of cable ties in his hands. “No, we can’t, and I have just the right solution. Let’s get her to her room.”
Grasping my wrists tight, Jordan roughly pulled me to my feet and slung me over his shoulder, rough hands sliding up my bare thighs.
“So help me God, if you don’t get your hands off me . . .”
“Oh, stop being so dramatic,” he griped, smacking me on the ass. “I’m just having a little bit of fun. Once the fights are over, we’ll let you go.”
Jordan slammed me down on my bed and before I could move, Liam straddled my waist. Pulling my arms up to the headboard, Jordan held them tight while Liam wrapped the cable ties around each wrist. I tried to move, but the plastic bit into my skin. The searing pain, along with fear of being tied down, brought tears to my eyes.
“Guys, this really hurts. Please let me go.”
“Sorry, sunshine,” Liam replied, sliding off my body, “but no can do.” He opened my closet door and rummaged through my things, until he found a couple of my silk scarves—one cream colored and the other black.
Taking them out, he smoothed them through his fingers and moaned when he peered down at me, helpless and completely at his mercy. Kyle won’t let him do anything to me, will he? That was the million dollar question. Obviously, he was so wrapped up in his desire to win he would put me at the mercy of someone as sadistic as Liam.
As Liam spread my legs and tied me to the posts on my bed, all I could think about was Tyler. If I didn’t show up to the arena, he would know something was wrong and he wouldn’t be able to concentrate. This was a much surer way to f*ck with his head, instead of him only seeing me with Paxton.
Looking at the clock, I had two hours until Tyler’s fight with my brother. Until then, I was in hell. Please God, let Tyler win.
IT WAS TEN minutes before my fight and Kacey was nowhere to be seen. I texted her and called her, but she never answered. Something was wrong. If Kyle was up to something, I would kill him. My coach, Darren Blake, watched me pace along the floor of my room, staring curiously at me. He didn’t know what was going on.
Darren was in his mid-thirties with light brown hair he kept shaved close to his scalp, and arm muscles that were as big around as my thighs. He always wore form fitting clothes, so the ladies could see how big he actually was. The guy was a monster and it was because of him and Kacey that I decided to turn my life around—to be the type of fighter I knew I could be.
“Do you want to tell me what’s got you all pissed off?” he asked casually. “Is it because Kacey’s not here?” He made it sound like she stood me up, but I knew that wasn’t the case.
“Yes, but it’s not in the way you think. Something’s wrong.”
Storming out of my room, I saw Tyler standing in the doorway of his own room, talking to his father. He tensed when I walked by, but I didn’t acknowledge him because there were too many people around. I was pretty sure he knew something was wrong when he saw Kacey wasn’t with me.
When I got to Kyle’s room, I pounded my fist angrily on the door. The door opened and his brows lifted amusingly when he saw me standing there, fuming. “Can I help you? Shouldn’t you be about ready to fight?”
“Where’s Kacey?” I thundered. “She’s not here.” Glancing into his room, there were two people missing . . . Liam and Jordan. You have got to be f*cking kidding me. And Kyle had the gall to look at me like nothing was wrong.
“Oh, I know,” he replied. “Did she not call you?”
“No,” I snapped. “What the f*ck’s going on, Kyle? If you have some sort of plan involving Kacey you better rethink it, now.”
Kyle chuckled and slapped me on the shoulder. “Calm down, my friend. She wasn’t feeling good, so she decided to stay at home. I guess I don’t get to see the torment on Tyler’s face when he sees you two together. Oh well, I’ll kick his ass without her here. Now go and finish getting ready. We’re going to get our seats so we can watch you win your title.”
He held out his hand and reluctantly I shook it, wishing deep down I could break his f*cking face. “All right, I’ll see you out there.” Fucking liar.
Turning on my heel, I headed back to my room and watched him and his friends walk down the hall toward the arena. Out of the corner of my eye, Tyler noticed them leave too. I opened my door and stepped inside, leaving it cracked because at any moment Tyler would be storming in. It took all of three seconds. He was already dressed in his black and neon green fighting shorts and black robe, his body tense.
“Where is she?” he growled, shutting the door.
Darren got to his feet. “Dude, what the f*ck?”