“I’m the kind of man that never changes his mind.”
“Then what the fuck do you want?”
He wasn’t as argumentative as usual, as if he wanted to say as few words as possible. “Liam wants to challenge you.”
I stopped pacing and went still. My breathing stopped altogether, but my body needed oxygen more than ever before. “Meaning?”
“Tonight. You and him. Fight to the death.”
Liam had the upper hand because he was an experienced fighter, and he also had rage on his side because of everything I’d done to Annabella in bed. He was also familiar with the surroundings of the ring, with the shouts of the men in the stands. And the reason he only gave me twelve hours’ notice was so I would have no time to prepare for the battle.
“One-time offer. Take it, or never see Anna again.”
I wasn’t stupid. I knew my odds of winning were slim, despite my knowledge of martial arts and my own experience street fighting. But I’d been searching for her for weeks and hadn’t figured out a single detail. If this was my only chance, I was going to take it. Liam could disappear with Annabella and forget about me, but he was spiteful, vengeful, and angry.
He was willing to lose Annabella just to kill me.
I had to take advantage of that. “Yes.”
“I figured you’d say that.” He hung up.
Hades watched me pace back and forth. “Are you sure you wanna do this?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t mean to doubt you, but Liam has the advantage. He has the size, experience, and training.”
“I’m aware. But I don’t have another choice. This is my one and only opportunity.”
“But what kind of opportunity is it if you’re likely to lose?”
I never did anything unless it was a sure thing, and this was definitely uncertain. I was quick on my feet, with strong reflexes, and I could anticipate things before they happened. But that might not be enough for a fight like this. “I’d rather die trying to get her back than give up altogether.”
“You don’t have to fight him. We’ll find her.”
“But how long will it take? What if it’s a year? Two?”
He leaned back into the wooden chair and rubbed the back of his head. “If you’re worried her feelings will change in that amount of time, don’t. What you have is real. There’s no way Anna would fall in love with a man who’s committed these kinds of crimes.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about.” I kept walking.
“Then what?”
I stopped and looked out the window. “She could get pregnant…have a kid.”
“I was always under the impression that was unlikely.”
“But not impossible.” I turned to him. “If they have a kid, they would have what they’ve always wanted. She might not want to rip them apart. And even if she did, he would always be a problem. And as a father of her child, she would never let me kill him, then. That happens…it doesn’t look good for us.”
“This is all under the assumption she’s sleeping with him.”
I knew she wouldn’t get into bed with him willingly. “She may not have that choice…” It hurt to say that out loud, to even think that way. It was why I had to do this, to put this to bed before it got worse. “I appreciate what you’re saying, but I have to do this. You, of all people, should understand…”
He dropped his gaze. “Yeah…unfortunately.”
Loud footsteps sounded outside the door before Catalina appeared. She stopped and stared at me, her eyes taking me in with a look I’d never seen on her face before. There was relief, love, so many other things. Then she ran to me and jumped into my arms.
I staggered back as I caught her, having no idea where this reaction had come from. I hadn’t even told her Annabella was missing.
“I’m so happy to see you…”
I hugged her back but shot Hades a quizzical expression. “Everything okay, Cat?”
She kept her face buried in my chest and nodded, but she didn’t release me or look me in the eye. She squeezed me like she never wanted to let go. “You’re the best brother in the world. I’m sorry I never told you that before.”
I cupped the back of her head and still didn’t understand. “Did something happen?”
She pulled away and finally looked at me, her eyes filled with a hint of tears. She took a few deep breaths and touched my biceps and forearms, like she’d almost just lost me. She closed her eyes for a second. “I just had a bad dream…that I lost you.”
I was touched by her affection, by the way she wore her heart on her sleeve for the first time. I always knew my sister loved me and I didn’t need to hear her say it, but it was nice…once in a while. “Well, I’m fine. And I love you too.” I kissed her on the forehead before I let her go.