“You look like a model, Amelia. My God, our brothers are going to freak out,” Regan stated and Velma high-fived her.
“Hey, you two said that they would love this dress.”
“Love taking it off of you,” Regan added.
“Not love the men that will be drooling and staring,” Velma added.
“Like your men will be any different?” Amelia countered.
“We just left them to come get you. They headed downstairs,” Velma said.
“Well then. Let’s go. I’m so nervous, I feel like my legs are going to give out.” Poor Waylon had been bombarded by reporters and company representatives. He was actually considered an underdog in this fight. Which didn’t sit right with Waylon until Amelia had given him another pep talk, as he liked to call them.
She placed the hotel key card into her purse then headed out with Velma and Regan.
As they took the elevator, they discussed the energy of the hotel all weekend and the fights that took place last night. There were a few more fights after Waylon’s, but his was all she really cared about.
As they exited the elevator, they indeed caught the attention of many people. But as they walked through the crowd, Amelia stopped dead in her tracks. She gripped Velma and Regan’s arms to stop them. Abruptly she turned around and faced the other way.
“What’s wrong?” Velma asked. She heard the whistle and gulped.
“Hot damn, woman, you look incredible. What are you doing in Vegas?”
She turned back around, not wanting to scare Velma and Regan.
“Do I know you?” she asked.
Escala gave her an immediately shocked expression.
“Hmm, I thought I knew you, sexy.” He nibbled his bottom lip, then looked her over, making her feel gross and violated.
“Who was that?” Regan asked.
“That was Escala. He’s involved with the boxing industry on a low scale. He’s a nobody, but he’s also Mano’s brother.
Regan grabbed her arm to stop Amelia from walking.
“He’s Mano’s brother? Oh fuck, Amelia.”
“Please don’t say anything. Please, Regan, Velma, just keep this between us. We’re going to be with the guys from here on out. Even if Mano is here, he can’t get to me or try anything with all the men around us. I don’t want Waylon to find out. He needs to focus on this fight. He doesn’t need a distraction.”
“Okay, okay, Amelia, calm down before you have a heart attack,” Regan stated. “We promise, right, Velma?”
“Right. Just be sure to stay with our brothers,” Velma said as they continued to walk. Now Amelia was really nervous.
Then they rounded the corner to the lobby, and there was a huge crowd of people waiting to enter and take their seats around the boxing ring.
They heard the whistles. They saw the eyes upon them and then Regan’s men found her and Velma’s men found Velma. Amelia wondered where Murphy, Brody, and Ricky were.
She felt the hand against the back of her neck and then the large body against her.
“Are you out of your mind wearing something like this, and walking around without one of us?” Murphy whispered.
She turned toward him, instantly happy and relieved to see him. “What is this?” Brody asked then walked around her, checking her out. Ricky grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. He kissed her hard on the mouth, making a scene. Then Brody kissed her and finally Murphy.
“That ought to do it,” Brody stated. She knew they did that on purpose, but as she reached for Murphy’s hand and faced the crowd of waiting people, she caught sight of Mano, and he gave her the look of death.
* * * *