Page 24 of Echoes of Obsession
“Ghost,” I answer.
“Hey, partner, got a quick question.”
Hunter Nisbet is my long-time best friend. We’ve been friends since third grade, and I trust the man with my life. Hunter also happens to be my silent partner for the Undercage. Although everyone knows about it so I guess he’s not very good at the silent part.
“Do you want me to guess, or are you going to ask it?” I tease.
“Ass,” he laughs. “I have this kid who is willing to put in ten grand to fight in next week’s lineup.”
“By kid, you’re saying?”
“He’s seventeen,” he admits.
“Fuck, Hunter, we can’t do that,” I sigh.
“It’s not like we do things by the books,” he reminds me. “He’s just angry and wants to get revenge on someone who wronged him.”
“We may not do shit legally,” I growl. “But every single fighter has to sign a contract to cover our asses. If that kid gets killed, and his folks find out how and press charges, we’re fucked. Not to mention, we can’t force whoever he wants to fight into the cage. That’s not how it works.”
“The man he wants a match with has fought with us before. But yeah, I thought as much, too,” he admits. “I just wanted to help the kid out. His sister was raped last month, and the one responsible got away from lack of evidence.”
“That’s rough, man. And I get his anger. But we can’t let him in the cage until he’s eighteen. Even then, he would have to prove himself, and that can take years.”
“Yeah, I get it. I’ll let him know. Sorry for bothering you, man. I’ll see you in the Undercage tomorrow.”
“Bye, Hunter.”
What the hell was he thinking? We’re walking a tightrope as it is, trying to keep everything off the police radar, and he wants to let a kid fight?
I’m not going to risk my family’s freedom just so some kid can throw a few punches. He knew that before calling.
Crazy bastard.
My attention shifts back to the party in the next room. Music blasts, and I hear laughter and cheers from multiple people.
Leaving the room, I head toward the lounge and simply lean against the wall and watch. I watch as Snow turns in circles with her eyes closed while holding Dove and Alliecat’s hands. Allie is laughing; Dove is too, but I can’t hear it. Maybe she’s nervous tolaugh out loud in front of so many new people. Or maybe she’s laughing so softly that I can’t hear it over the music.
But that’s okay. She’ll soon learn that not a single person in my life would make fun of the way she sounds. And, if someone did, I’d kill them without blinking an eye.
Then, there’s Snow. Her eyes are closed, and she’s laughing as she turns with the girls. Her cheeks are red, and her face is filled with happiness.
She’s so damn beautiful. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I haven’t been able to get her out of my head since the very first moment I saw her standing outside of my club. Her light blonde hair was up in a messy bun then, just as it is now. Maybe that’s her go-to style.
“Hey buddy,” I greet Sky as he moves to sit beside me. He, too, seems to be watching Snow closely.
I’ve never known someone who had a seizure disorder so severe that she was given a service animal to help her.
Since meeting her, I’ve done hours of research on her disorder. I know everything there is to know about how to keep her safe when she has another one.
The seizure she had in my office nearly did me in. I’ll admit that I had a moment of doubt about whether I wanted to pursue this woman who caught my attention so quickly, knowing she had a medical condition that would undoubtedly affect the way a relationship would normally go.
One that would even affect the way I live my life.
But the second she opened her eyes and freaked the fuck out for pissing on my couch, I knew that it didn’t matter. I feel it down to my soul that Snow, my beautiful Amara, is supposed to be mine.
And when I claim something as mine, I’m all in. Obsessively so. Which the women in my past couldn’t handle.
I wonder if Snow can handle being obsessed over. Because I sure as fuck already am.