Fighting Solitude (On The Ropes #3)(36)

Shit, he was right.

“What’s wrong, Page? Nothing to say?” Davenport goaded. “You just gonna stand there and let your washed-up trainer and has-been brother take care of your shit?”

I sucked in a deep breath.

Don’t breathe. Don’t breathe. Don’t breathe.

Adrenaline surged in my veins, but it found no way out as I forced it down.

Liv wasn’t as successful.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” she erupted.

I hooked a fast arm around her waist and yanked her back to my chest. She continued hurling insults.

Davenport laughed loudly. With an evil smirk, he lifted his eyes to mine.

Three words.

Three f*cking words secured his fate.

I’d already wanted his belt.

But, with three f*cking works, I wanted his blood.

“Control your bitch.”

The room exploded. Slate, Till, and even Flint jumped to restrain me.

I didn’t move.

Liv was a button of mine he’d never pushed before. It was the only one left that could send me nuclear. Clearly, everyone around us knew that, but I wouldn’t give him that knowledge.

That was mine. The last thing I needed was him launching a full-out attack on her just to set me off-kilter.

Every muscle in my body strained, but I didn’t budge.

Not forward to kill him.

And definitely not backward in retreat.

I was rooted in place.

Eyes locked.

Plotting his murder.

Electricity charged the air.

I. Did. Not. Move.

I refused to give him what he’d so cowardly come for.

My breath escaped on a loud roar of laughter that stunned everyone, including the senior citizens club that had congregated around us.

Davenport’s eyes narrowed in confusion, but my laughter only grew louder.

I repeated his words, shaking my head in humor. “Control your bitch.”

“Uhh…” Liv said as I finally dragged my eyes away from Davenport.

Smiling, I said, “He’s right, you know.”

Her mouth got tight.

“Let him stay. I’m out of here.” Chuckling to myself, I repeated under my breath, “Control your bitch.”

Three words had never been truer.

As my body relaxed, Slate and Till cautiously released me.

“Show’s over!” Leo announced and then started barking orders to at least five of his men, who went to work clearing the disappointed crowd. “Time to leave,” Leo ordered, pressing a heavy hand into Davenport’s chest. “And, next time you call someone a bitch, the Page brothers are going to be the least of your worries. Got it?” He shoved hard, causing Davenport to stumble back a step, his gaze still locked on me.

“That’s it, Page? You just gonna walk away? I should have known you’d be a f*cking *!” he prodded.

I laughed again as I draped my arm around Liv’s waist. “You ready to go?”

“What the hell was that?” she asked, regarding me warily.

My expression turned hard as I looked down at her. “You stay out of shit like that from now on,” I scolded her loudly. “I don’t need you making things worse.”

Her mouth fell open. “Are you kidding me?”

“I’m serious. That shit happens again, you stay the f*ck out of it. Do not step between me and another man. Ever.”

“You were about to lose it!” she snarled—even that was sexy.

I leaned into her face and lowered my voice. “I cannot worry about you jumping in on something and possibly getting caught in the middle. Now, keep your mouth closed. And back away.”

Her eyes flickered with understanding. “Quarry,” she warned, but she did it taking two giant steps away.

“Good girl,” I whispered, knowing I’d pay for it later.

Spinning on a foot, I charged forward ready to give Davenport exactly what I wanted him to take from our little pow-wow.

Till and Slate were off to the side, chatting with Flint. Leo was still struggling to get Davenport out the back door.

“Yo, Leo!” I called as all the eyes in the room lifted to mine.

It was too late.

My adrenaline finally found a way out.

With a hard right Leo barely dodged, my fist landed on Garrett Davenport’s chin, snapping his head to the side and sending him stumbling to the ground.

I dove for another punch, but Till caught my arms before I made contact.

“Only bitch that needs controlling is you!” I roared.

He jumped to his feet and lunged in my direction as security scrambled between us.

“Grow a sack and sign the f*cking contracts! You want me? Make it happen.” I pounded my chest as he fought the herd of men dividing us.

He’d come wanting to fight. He’d left with yet another sample.

The rest would be delivered in the ring.

My body slacked in Till’s grasp.

I calmly watched as Leo’s men dragged him, kicking and swinging, out of the back door.

“Jesus Christ,” Slate growled, raking a frustrated hand through his hair.

“Dumb f*ck,” I mumbled as the door slammed shut.

Till let me go, but not before slapping me hard on the back of the head. “Him? What is wrong with you? This shit is gonna be all over the news tomorrow.”