Caged (Mastered, #4)(140)

Cranking the tunes in her car helped calm her so she didn’t obsess over Amery’s summons. Or why she hadn’t heard from Deacon.

Stop it. You told him not to contact you. What did you expect?

A miracle, apparently.

By the time she reached the main door at Black Arts, Amery was waiting for her.

“Punctual, as usual.”

“Not smart to keep the boss waiting.”

Thankfully, Amery was too busy fussing with the excessive security system to comment on Molly’s bloodshot eyes rimmed with dark circles.

They took the elevator to the fifth floor and then switched to the private elevator for the penthouse. She’d been to Ronin and Amery’s place only two other times; Ronin was a fiercely private man.

Amery seemed preoccupied, which set Molly right back on edge. “Did you bring me here to fire me or something?”

“You’re funny.” She inserted a key into the panel and hit a button that had no floor number on it.

Holy shit. Amery was taking her to the roof. To the sanctuary she’d heard about but hadn’t seen firsthand.

“You’re definitely freaking me out, Mrs. Black.”

Amery didn’t look at her until the doors opened. “Why don’t you wait by the pool? It’s past the garden through the big door. Can’t miss it.”

“Amery—”

“Go.” She practically shoved Molly out of the elevator. “And please don’t be mad at me.” The elevator doors closed.

Why would Molly be mad at her? Dammit. What was going on?

Standing here glaring at the elevator door won’t answer your questions.

Molly breathed in deeply and exhaled before moving. As she walked down a short foyer, the rich, earthy scent of growing things filled her lungs. No lights illuminated the path through the garden. Kind of dangerous, but Ronin and Amery were the only ones who usually came up here, and they were used to navigating in the dark.

The vibrant red door separating the spaces was ajar. She pushed it open, and the sweet scent of flowers rolled over her. When she crossed the threshold, darkness was no longer an issue. Tiki torches lit up the deck around the pool. But what she saw in the pool made her jaw drop. Dozens of candles floated in the water, creating a warm glow. With each step, the floral scent became stronger.

She slowly turned around, overwhelmed by the dozens of vases of roses. When she faced forward again, he emerged from the shadows. Startled, she jumped back and closed her eyes.

He’s not real. Deacon isn’t here. It’s just a shadow.

“Molly. Babe. Open your eyes. You’re too close to the side of the pool, and it’s making me nervous that you’re gonna fall in.”


That forced her to look at him. “What are you doing here?”

“I didn’t like that you left me.”

Deacon-speak for he missed her. “I’m surprised you noticed I was gone.”

Not nice. But it was true.

“Well, that was a really f*cking helpful note you left me as to where you’d gone. But not why.”

Molly squared her shoulders. “Bullshit. You know why I left. How many times have we been in this situation?”

“Too many,” he admitted.

“And you shouldn’t be here in Denver. You ditching training camp in Texas a week before a career-changing fight is only proving Maddox’s point that I’m a distraction.”

“Molly—”

“Save it. I explained everything in the note. And I asked you not to do this.”

“That’s the thing, babe. You don’t get to make that decision. I do. And you sure as f*ck don’t get to end it with me in a f*cking note. Do you have any idea how crazy that made me?”

“Crazy enough to charter a plane, I imagine.” Molly couldn’t believe he was here. And where had he gotten the idea she was ending it? “I left you because the fight—”

“Doesn’t f*cking matter if I lose you over it!”

“Don’t you see that’s the point I was trying to make? I don’t want you or your trainers to blame me for you backing out of this fight!” She inhaled deeply to calm herself. “We both know that’s what will happen. Dammit, Deacon. You’ve worked too hard for too many years. You’ve only been with me for a few months.”

He ran his hands over his head, then across the stubble on his jaw. “You don’t get it, do you? So I’ll spell it out, literal girl. I want you—a life with you—more than a championship belt. More than anything in the world. Did you not hear what I told Maddox when we were in Nebraska, woman?”

How could she forget? But she had, hadn’t she?

I could have a title fight on the line tomorrow and I still wouldn’t walk away from her. I won’t ever walk away from her. She needs me, and I sure as f*ck need her.

“I like fighting. And I’m good at it.” Deacon pointed at her. “But you? You, I love. Big difference. You should see that love every time I look at you. You feel that love every time I touch you. I told you that we weren’t ever breaking up again. I wasn’t f*cking kidding about that. So I’m here to apologize for bein’ a dickhead and to ah . . . talk.”

She almost burst out laughing. He’d uttered the word talk like it was a communicable disease. “So talk.”