Valerie doesn’t speak, doesn’t say a word until we’re in the limo and pulling away from the hotel.
Then, her composure completely melting away, she grabs me by the hands and gives them a gentle squeeze.
There’s so much emotion on her face and in her eyes, I finally crack, bursting open with the tears I’ve been holding back as she says, “Aubrey, I promise I won’t let your father make good on any of his threats, but you must tell me what’s going on. If I’m going to protect you, I need to know everything.”
Chapter Nineteen
Emmett
Fight night. The time where fears, doubts, and hurts can be ignored. The time where I can be the monster I’ve always knew I was deep down.
The guy who likes to cause pain and take pain.
No more running away from my demons. No more hiding from the pain of loss and the pain of redemption. No, it’s time to say fuck everything and be the one who claims his fucking life back.
A light rapping on the door snaps me out of focus. I’ve been focusing for the past thirty minutes on keeping my heart at a steady rhythm.
Who the fuck is interrupting me?
A quick glance at the clock shows me I have ten minutes until the fight.
Snapping my fingers at Casey, I point to the door. “Get rid of whoever the fuck that is.”
“On it!” Casey says as he hops out of the chair he’s been occupying since we got here.
Casey is as tightly wound as I am. He’s been amped up on this shot of vengeance for both him and his dad. Tommy never got the resolution he deserved for being cold-cocked inside the ring.
Fucking bitch ass Jamey and that cheap shot have been playing over and over in my head.
You just don’t swing on a fucking trainer who didn’t do shit. What a fucking pussy. I’m gonna whoop his fucking ass. I’m going to take a long time doing it too. I’m going to punish his ass. I’m going to make him my little bitch.
And when he thinks it’s over, I’m going to hurt him some more.
“Bree?!” Casey gasps loudly. “Fuck off!”
Well fuck, there goes me keeping my heart rate at a good rhythm.
Turning toward the door to the little room I’ve been sequestered in since I entered the building, I see the love of my life standing in the doorway.
Casey glares at her then he slams the door in her face.
I start snorting with laughter, I can’t help it. The look that was on Bree’s face is priceless. She looked so crushed and defeated, like she had so many things she wanted to say to us.
“Dude,” I mock whisper.
Casey starts snickering as he looks at me and shrugs. “Want me to let her in?”
I hop out of the chair I’ve been sitting in. “Yeah, let’s see what the fuck she has to say.”
Casey swings the door open but there’s no one there. “Uh-oh.”
“Ah, shit,” I groan, and step up to the doorway.
After looking both ways, I see Bree walking away with her shoulders slumped.
“Hey, get your ass back here!” I shout at her.
She turns and her eyes widen at the sight of Casey and me laughing at her.