“I need a guy tonight,” I say, getting down to business. “I need him to stay with her at the front of the ring.” I lift my chin at Rylee.
“Done. I’ll put Hammer on her.” Hart tips his head to the guy he was talking to when we walked up, and he walks off. Hart’s eyes then move to Rylee. “Now, how about you introduce me to this gorgeous little lady.”
I tug Rylee so she’s tucked against my side. “Hart, this is my girlfriend, Rylee.” I jerk my chin to Charles. “And her friend, Charles.”
Charles holds out his hand and Hart takes it. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same.” He looks back to Rylee, his eyes holding curiosity. “So, you’re the reason my man Zayden has been off lately.” He grins.
“I haven’t been off,” I grouch.
“Sanders had you pinned down longer than you’ve ever been pinned before,” he reminds me. I don’t need him telling me that shit. I remember it well.
“The guy was three hundred fucking pounds and a brute.”
He laughs, actually fucking laughs. “Big guys always move slower, you know that.”
“Whatever,” I growl. “It was a one off. I have no plans to let it happen again.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “Make sure you don’t. I like my undefeated status.”
I lift a brow. “You mean my undefeated status?”
“That too.” He holds his hand out to Rylee. “Anyway, it’s nice to finally meet you. He could have picked a better time, like when the store upstairs is open, but it’s about damn time Zayden brings a girl around for me to meet.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Rylee says, offering a smile. “I’ll have to stop by during the day next time.”
“You do that, sweetness.” He turns back to me. “So, what’s this I hear about Danielle getting approved for a set of lungs?”
“I was actually going to talk to you about that after the fight. The insurance company finally came through. She met with a transplant team a couple of days ago.”
“It’s about damn time. Took the bastards long enough.” He claps a hand on my shoulder. “I’m happy for her.”
“Thanks, man.” I glance around the crowded room. “It’s not normally this packed,” I comment. “What gives?”
Hart’s expression turns serious. “The guy you’re up against is from a couple counties over. Apparently, he’s undefeated in his parts.”
I nod, not worried about the fight itself, just the tight crowd and the trouble it could cause. Not only for Rylee, but for Hart as well. Things can get out of hand really fast in a group this size.
Hammer, a huge motherfucker Hart normally has moving around the room, keeping an eye on things, walks up to his side. “Sup, boss?”
“I want you glued to this girl’s side.” He gestures to Rylee. “Not one fucking person touches her, and if they try, break them.”
“You got it, boss.”
After introductions are made between Rylee, Charles, and Hammer, we leave Hart behind and make our way through the crowd. I have her as close as possible to my side while Charles is on her other. Hammer is in front of us, making a path. People call my name, but I ignore them all. My sole focus is getting Rylee to the front of the crowd, where there are several other men controlling the masses.
Once we’re at the front, I turn Rylee by her shoulders to face me.
“Stay here until it’s over. I’ll come to you.”
“Okay.”
She rolls to her toes and presses a kiss against my lips. I groan into her mouth, wishing we were alone so I could taste her better. It’s been a few of days since I’ve had my hands on her, and I feel like I’m going through fucking withdrawals.
All too soon, she falls back to her feet, and I almost grab her up and bring her back to my lips. Only the sound of the crowd and Charles’ expression I see in my periphery stops me.
“Please be careful,” Rylee says with a worried expression. I tuck a piece of loose hair behind her ear. It makes my chest feel warm knowing she’s concerned.